May 31, 2006 5:38 pm US/Eastern

Politicians Fuming: N.Y. Anti-Terrorist Budget Cut

Bloomberg & Co. Sound Off On Homeland Security Dept.

John Slattery
Reporting

(CBS) NEW YORK Long Island Congressman Peter King said the Department of Homeland Security has -- in his words -- "declared war on New York," by slashing its anti-terrorist grants by 40 percent.

"It's a knife in the back to New York," said King, a Republican and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. "These cuts are inexcusable, indefencible. I blame the administration and Homeland Security, and I'll do everything I can to stop it."

New York will receive $124 million in anti-terrorism grants for cities at high risk of attacks. The Department of Homeland Security announced grant amounts for 46 cities, divvying up a $740-million pool of funds.


Homeland Security 2006 AllocationTable

A worksheet made by the federal government to explain the decision, obtained by The Associated Press, said New York City has just four major financial assets at risk -- and no national monuments or icons.

Senator Charles Schumer displayed the worksheet.

"When they filled out money for the New York City area, (they said) that we have no vulerable, high-risk targets," Schumer said, "Anyone who can't see New York monuments at risk is blind as a bat when it comes to homeland security."

Schumer said Florida got a 22 percent increase, and Georgia got a 40 percent bump. He wondered if Georgia peanut farmers are a greater target than the Empire State Building.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was just as perplexed.

"When you stop a terrorist, they have a map of New York City in their pocket. They don't have a map of any of the other ... 45 places," Bloomberg said. "Do I think they should have given us more? I don't think there's any question they should have given us a lot more."

Governor George Pataki said you can just look at the places that have been hit before.

"New York and Washington D.C. certainly are the two that are most symbolic of our country, and both of us have been attacked in the past," he said.

Homeland Security Undersecretary George Foresman told reporters in Washington that his agency has to spread resources across the nation.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_151172533.html
Breukelen advocaat Reviewed by Breukelen advocaat on . Politicians Fuming: N.Y. Anti-Terrorist Budget Cut May 31, 2006 5:38 pm US/Eastern Politicians Fuming: N.Y. Anti-Terrorist Budget Cut Bloomberg & Co. Sound Off On Homeland Security Dept. John Slattery Reporting (CBS) NEW YORK Long Island Congressman Peter King said the Department of Homeland Security has -- in his words -- "declared war on New York," by slashing its anti-terrorist grants by 40 percent. Rating: 5