Res. No. 1247
Resolution commending the United States Department of Homeland Security for fully restoring anti-terrorism funding to New York City through their Urban Area Security Initiative.
By Council Members Vallone Jr., Brewer, Jackson, James, Koo, Koppell, Nelson, Williams, Wills, Mendez, Halloran and Ulrich
Whereas, According to the 2010 United States ("U.S.") Census, New York City is currently the most populated city in the country with approximately 8.175 million people; and
Whereas, As the global financial and cultural capital, as well as the site of both the February 26, 1993 and the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks, New York City has historically faced, and continues to face, an unparalleled threat to homeland security; and
Whereas, In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Urban Area Security Initiative ("UASI") grant program, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), was established to provide funding to high-threat, high-risk urban areas for homeland security equipment, training, exercises, and planning; and
Whereas, According to the Homeland Security Grant Program, the UASI program is "designed to fund designated high-threat, high-density urban areas against acts of terrorism and catastrophic events;" and
Whereas, DHS' UASI total grant allocation for Fiscal Year ("FY") 2011 was approximately $662 million, down from the previous fiscal year's allocation of $832.5 million; and
Whereas, In an effort to maximize limited grant dollars and focus on the cities that face the most significant threats, in FY 2011, DHS reduced the number of grant eligible urban areas from 64 to 31; and
Whereas, This reduction in eligible urban areas helped narrow the funding gap for those areas that warrant appropriations for enhanced preparedness against acts of terrorism; and
Whereas, In FY 2011, DHS awarded $151,579,096 to New York City through the UASI program in order to help the City prepare and respond to acts of terrorism; and
Whereas, In FY 2012, DHS significantly decreased its UASI grant funding by $172 million, resulting in approximately $490 million for program grants; and
Whereas, Despite this precipitous drop in funding, which threatened designated urban areas, such as New York City, from receiving adequate anti-terrorism funding, DHS restored New York City's FY 2011 grant of $151,579,096 for FY 2012; and
Whereas, DHS recognizes that it is paramount to the safety of Americans to continue to prioritize funding for urban areas at greatest risk from terrorist attacks and sufficiently fund these areas; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York commends the United States Department of Homeland Security for fully restoring anti-terrorism funding to New York City through their Urban Area Security Initiative.
WJH
LS 2898
2/23/12