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News
Feds Give LB Area $12.1 Million In Latest Homeland Security Allocations
(Nov. 13, 2003) -- The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security has allocated $12,136,091 to the Long Beach area as part of an additional $725 million allocated nationally in the FY 04 budget under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
The $12.1 million is a new allocation for LB. It's in addition to $6.46 million allocated to City Hall in May, 2003 (previously reported by LBReport.com) in grants based on a formula that takes into account threat information, critical infrastructure, and population density. At that time, the Ports of LB-L.A. also received $9.076 million in security-related grants (likewise reported by LBReport.com).
We post as breaking news; details of how the latest federal security funding will be spent locally are sketchy; city staff is expected to provide details on Friday Nov. 14. and we'll update this text accordingly. (Revisit this page, click refresh or reload on your browser).
A release from the Homeland Security Dept. indicated in part:
The urban areas are chosen based on a formula that takes into account factors including critical infrastructure, population density and credible threat information. Funding allocations among the cities, contiguous counties and mutual aid partners will be based on an urban area assessment and strategic plan. Eighty percent of the funds allocated to the state under this program must be awarded to the designated cities and contiguous counties within the urban area based on the strategic plan. The state may use the remaining twenty percent for further security enhancements within the urban area.
Other urban areas receiving the latest round of formula grants include NYC ($47 million), Chicago ($34.1 million), L.A. ($28.2 million), SF ($26.4 million), Newark, NJ ($15 million) and San Diego ($10.4 million).
LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill has been a frequent traveller to Washington, D.C. during which (as also reported by LBReport.com) she has testified on Capitol Hill and described at conferences and in the media LB's large security-related costs and needs since 9-11-01.
The latest Homeland Security Dept. allocations nationally amount to $675 million in formula grants...with $50 million more going to metropolitan rail transit authorities.
Among transit grant recipients in the latest allocations were L.A. Metrolink ($1.98 million) and L.A. County Transportation ($800,000).
In its written release, the Homeland Security Dept. said the grants (allocated from Congressionally appropriated taxpayer funds) are being made "to help enhance their overall security and preparedness level to prevent, respond and recover from acts of terrorism."
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said in the release:
The Department of Homeland Security is pleased to be able to build upon the Administration's vision to enhance security capabilities from the ground up and to form strong regional partnerships to create a foundation of shared leadership and shared responsibility," said Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge in a Homeland Security Dept. release.
Secretary Ridge added, "The funds will go to the designated states, which will then work with counties and cities to form regions that will work together through mutual aid agreements, interoperable communications, statewide intelligence centers and community and citizen participation. Our goal is to ensure that all of these necessary elements are communicating and coordinating to prevent a crisis and to be ready if one occurs."
Further details to follow.
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