Homeland Security’s ‘incomprehensible’ security grants

June 1, 2006

Five months ago, [tag]Department of Homeland Security[/tag] Secretary [tag]Michael Chertoff[/tag] said his agency had finally changed the way in which it distributes federal [tag]grants [/tag]to states and localities. Whereas the old system relied on a bizarre proportional method in which smaller states (and less likely [tag]terrorist [/tag][tag]targets[/tag]) got far more funding than needed, Chertoff said this year’s grants would be risk-based and consistent with [tag]common sense[/tag].

What do you know, the Department of Homeland Security’s decisions can get worse.

The Department of Homeland Security yesterday slashed anti-terrorism money for [tag]Washington [/tag]and [tag]New York[/tag], part of an immediately controversial decision to reduce grant funds for major urban areas in the Northeast while providing more to mid-size cities from Jacksonville to Sacramento.

The announcement that the two cities targeted on Sept. 11, 2001, would suffer 40 percent reductions in urban security funds prompted outrage from lawmakers and local officials in both areas, who questioned the wisdom of cutting funds so deeply for cities widely recognized as prime terrorist targets. […]

In addition to Washington and New York, the grant decisions included a 46 percent drop for San Diego, where several of the Sept. 11 hijackers lived; a 61 percent decrease for Phoenix, where an FBI agent suspected that terrorists were taking flight training; and a 30 percent reduction for Boston, the point of origin of the two jetliners that crashed into the World Trade Center.

New York City will not only get considerably less money, but a risk scorecard for the city created by the Department of Homeland Security concluded that the home of the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Brooklyn Bridge has “zero” national monuments or icons.

George Foresman, DHS’s Undersecretary for Preparedness, told reporters that it’s not just about terrorism; grants are also intended to improve readiness for “an act of Mother Nature.” With this in mind, it’s worth noting that [tag]New Orleans[/tag]’ grants for security and disaster preparedness were also cut in half.

I have exceedingly low expectations for the [tag]Bush[/tag] [tag]administration[/tag]’s [tag]competence[/tag] and judgment, but once in a while, they manage to surprise me.

Yes, the party of national security and defense. Republican’ts is so accurate.

  • I hear Chertoff has it on good authority that the next terrorist attack will be in Alabama. Specifically, suicide bombers plan to blow up Judge Roy Moore’s granite monument to the Ten Commandments. The details cannot be discussed but sources say they beat up a Newark NJ falafel vendor until he confessed the plan.

    Given this information, it makes perfect sense to beef up funding to the less obvious target areas. We must protect ourselves! I am starting a grassroots fund raising campaign to hire Blackwater Security to protect the world’s largest ball of twine and the world’s largest prairie chicken. It is time to act!

    Please donate generously!

  • You do realize, of course, that each and every one of these areas affected by funding reductions has, at one time or another, said many-many-many bad things about Kid George and his puppeteer, “Face-Shot” Cheney. It’s just another example of extorting support for a dying administration….

  • New York has not national monuments or icons? WTF? hmmmmm I guesss that many people think the entire city of NY is an icon and the fact that 9/11 happened in NY (not even getting to the earlier bombing of the WTC) means shit.

    I’m sorry but DHS and republicans can no longer get a bye. DHS reduces the amount of NY and DC and NOLA (though after a natural disaster) and wants the public to think they are safe? As for republicans they are the “law and order, we can make you feel safter party” and yet this administration cuts funding to DHS and other like minded agencies and they have to deal with the consequences at the same time as pushing for an extension of the tax cuts and abolition of the estate tax. You don’t get something for nothing people……

  • Any connection between this redistribution of HS wealth and hotly contested Congressional districts?

    This thing just stinks of political pandering.

  • I think you got it, 2Manchu. As a Manhattan resident, I sure feel relieved that “bring it on!” Bush is keeping me safe. Maybe they’d like New York to be obliterated so the Golden Age of Republicanism can continue without that thorn in their side. Will we ever be rid of these assholes?

  • Seems strange that they would cut funding in San Diego considering the hotly contested election for Duke’s old House district.

    It’s as if the Republicans enjoy shooting themselves in the foot.

  • The GOP’s message to the blue states, to urban America, to all those with at least one “Y” in their family trees, and who can claim an interest in anything more challenging than watching NASCAR on the tee-vee is clear: YOYO (“you’re on your own”).

    I wonder when the elected Democrats will pull themselves out of their money-induced torpor in order to make this point to the electorate?

  • This is so bizarre. It almost makes one think that money is being directed only to those places that have a direct personal connection to DHS employees themselves.

    Totally irrational.

  • At first glance it looks like the funds are being moved to places with a greater share of Republican constituents.

  • Well, I read today that some of New York’s money is going to Ft. Lauderdale and some to Omaha. WTF?????!!! And we’re still leaving Fargo completely unprotected!! Scandalous!

  • Frak,
    That’s right, $3.2m to al Qaeda’s Number One target: Omaha, Nebraska.

    WTF indeed……

    “Gentlemen, our plans to disrupt the College World Series in Omaha this June is on schedule. Exxxxxcellent……………..”

  • see what you get for being a blue state?

    and, was that a typo & you meant Secretary for Under-preparedness?

  • I mean, I guess this makes sense to Chertoff. Lightning never strikes in the same place twice. It’s the PLANES THAT YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR YOU MORON!
    I love how the government mentions September eleventh when they’re discussing stuff like attacking Sadame Hussain, but completely forget about it when discussing New York.
    No National Landmarks? That’s not only being dumb, but it’s making sure that you can’t miss how dumb they really are. That’s like stealing a taxi from a pregnant woman who’s entering labor, and then telling her that “A baby can happen any day, but the season finale of American Idol comes along only once in a lifetime, and I have to get home before it starts.” I agree that Sam’s Diner, being the largest manmade structure in Madeupville, KY deserves to offer its customers a safe environment in addition to a great apple pie, but the Statue of Liberty not being more deserving of those funds? “Give me your tired, your poor, but please, don’t give me any homeland security.”

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