Proposed Res. No. 551-A Title Resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States to distribute homeland security funding directly to the City of New York and other localities across the nation based upon risk assessment and target potential, to ensure maximum receipt of federal funds. Body By Council Members Vallone Jr., Addabbo Jr., Clarke, Davis, Foster, Gerson, Jackson, Jennings, Katz, Lopez, Nelson, Sanders, Seabrook, Sears, Weprin, Gennaro, Brewer, Gentile, Gallagher, and Lanza; also Council Member Quinn Whereas, The City of New York is our nation's cultural and financial capital, and remains the prime target for terrorists; and Whereas, Current proposals for distribution of homeland security funding include a formula to award monies to states and localities on a per capita basis; and Whereas, Apportioning millions of dollars through this formula, regardless of known threats or vulnerabilities, does not recognize New York's pressing needs and security concerns; and Whereas, When testifying on Capitol Hill on March 27, 2003, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, said that such a formula "shouldn't be the formula we use in the future, because it doesn't take into consideration some of the special needs that certain communities have and certain states have that are substantially greater than others"; and Whereas, The most devastating attack ever waged on US soil and the most economically destructive event occurred here in New York City on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center, and according to the City of New York Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., this event has cost the City of New York $83 billion, $27 billion of which is lost tourist and ancillary revenue, and more than $50 billion is lost building and infrastructure damage; and Whereas, In the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack, the City must re-engineer and modernize it first responding agencies, which include the Departments of Police, Fire, and Health/Mental Hygiene, the Office of Emergency Management and the Health and Hospitals Corporation, in order to assume expanded anti-terrorism capabilities; and Whereas, At recent hearings before the Committee on Public Safety, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly testified that New York City would require millions of dollars for equipment related to anti-terrorism efforts; and Whereas, The Police Commissioner also testified as to the need for overtime funding for anti-terrorism and first responder training; without overtime funding for training, the Department will either have to rely on cursory training methods that do not fully prepare NYPD officers in anti-terrorism tactics and emergency response or be forced to remove officers form enforcement duties and thus compromise crime-fighting efforts; and Whereas, At recent hearings before the Committee on Fire & Criminal Justice Services, New York City Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta testified as to the need for building-specific radio signal repeater technology, so that FDNY personnel can communicate reliably throughout high-rise buildings, as well as the need for equipment to be able to handle any emergency incident; and Whereas, In addition to receiving federal money on the basis of risk assessment and need, New York City should also receive this money directly from the federal government, rather than through New York State; and Whereas, In light of the tremendous financial need of the city in the aftermath of September 11, as well as the City of New York's risk of being subject to another terrorist attack when compared to other parts of the country, it is imperative that a large share of federal money for emergency preparedness be provided to the City of New York; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Congress of the United States to distribute homeland security funding directly to the City of New York and other localities across the nation based upon risk assessment and target potential, to ensure maximum receipt of federal funds. MK