Yonkers gets $2 million in homeland security funds

[x635 4,066]

Congrats to Yonkers! They are always adding to their arsenal....and really adding to the entire emergency services community in the region.

Yonkers gets $2 million in homeland security funds

By Len Maniace

The Journal News • March 28, 2009

YONKERS - The city has received $2 million in federal Homeland Security funds and plans to spend it on new equipment - including two boats - and overtime for police, firefighters and other emergency personnel undergoing special training.

FULL STORY: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090328/NEWS02/903280352

[stixx 7]

what about giving new rochelle some money like 1.5 million for new rochelle they need it more then yonkers. :angry:

[Billy 68]

Congrats to Yonkers! They are always adding to their arsenal....and really adding to the entire emergency services community in the region.

FULL STORY: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090328/NEWS02/903280352

I guess in looking at the big picture this is a good thing. But, I have to question just a little bit the need to spend almost 25% of this grant on two boats. It seems to me that the money could be spent more wisely. Does anyone else agree? Any other thoughts?

[ny10570 745]

If these 2 boats can be used to establish a year round presence on the Hudson, then it looks like a pretty reasonable expense considering the money is a homeland security grant. To the south, you have FDNY and NYPD who are most likely coming from lower manhattan To the North, what FD or Police units are in the water and staffed year round?

[Just a guy 493]

the PD boat and the FD boat do different tasks.... The PD boat should be manned all year round and hopefully this money allows that to happen. The PD boat concentrates on boater safety and life saving which are essential in the ever popular waters of the hudson

[billfitz 109]

This money was from the 07 Federal Budget (UASI or Urban Area Security Initiative)- Westchester, Nassau & Suffolk also recived 2M - The Journal news picked up on ours because the City Council just recently voted to accept & ammend our City budget to utilize these funds - White Plains, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon also received money from this program under the SUASP( Supplemental Urban Area Support Program - Do not know the $$ amounts) As for the boats PD & FD had to receive waivers from NYS OHS to purchase the boats and justify the need - which we did.

[Remember585 815]

The PD boat concentrates on boater safety and life saving which are essential in the ever popular waters of the hudson

There's water mixed in with all of that human waste in the Hudson? Who knew!

Congrats to Yonkers, any idea when these vessels will be in service?

[billfitz 109]

most likely a year or so

[x635 4,066]

Let's not forget the plane that landed in the Hudson.....it could have easily been Yonkers. Also, a couple years ago, a small plane crashed into the Hudson in Yonkers.

Additionally, if you read through the summer IA's, Yonkers PD and FD perform respond to a broad range of incidents on the Hudson, including assistance north and south of Yonkers.

[helicopper 1,050]

what about giving new rochelle some money like 1.5 million for new rochelle they need it more then yonkers. :angry:

stixx,

Yonkers receives additional funds in part because of its population and because it is an MMRS city (one of only a handful in the State). New Rochelle has, over the years, received DHS funds for a variety of projects and will continue to (I imagine).

There are 43 municipalities in Westchester County and this thread is not intended for 42 posts asserting that Town, Village, City X should have received a grant or deserves it more than any other jurisdiction.

Westchester County received $2 million dollars and I'm sure some of that money will be headed for New Rochelle. No need to be angry!

[stixx 7]

stixx,

Yonkers receives additional funds in part because of its population and because it is an MMRS city (one of only a handful in the State). New Rochelle has, over the years, received DHS funds for a variety of projects and will continue to (I imagine).

There are 43 municipalities in Westchester County and this thread is not intended for 42 posts asserting that Town, Village, City X should have received a grant or deserves it more than any other jurisdiction.

Westchester County received $2 million dollars and I'm sure some of that money will be headed for New Rochelle. No need to be angry!

sorry for being angry but new rochelle needs money and once again iam sorry.

[STAT213 332]

A lot of the federal money is grant based, and how you write your grants is crucial.

It could be that one town has better writers than the other.

[JFLYNN 681]

A lot of the federal money is grant based, and how you write your grants is crucial.

It could be that one town has better writers than the other.

Bill Fitz may be better able to elaborate on this, but many years ago, just after the first WTC bombing in 1993, the Feds decided to institute a "120 Cities" program which would get funding to Fire (and Police) departments of the largest 120 cities, Yonkers being one, for response to terrorist incidents/ major disasters. The philosophy was to concentrate on these 120 cities because the overwhelming majority of the US population lived in or very nearby to one of these cities. Since 911, funding has been opened up to many municipalities outside these 120 cities (in my opinion way, way too many places receive funding now). However, the original philosophy still comes into play with such things as the "Urban Area Initiative", etc., which is to best use Federal resources by concentrating funding on cities/ departments which protect the large % of the population and these departments will of course share these resources with their neighbors in time of need. This is not to be confused with these larger cities having to provide for the basics of fire protection for their smaller neighbors which should ordinarily fall on the shoulders of the taxpayers in each individual municipality. Rather, if the funding for large scale, very infrequent incidents were to be dedicated to the largest departments, there would be a real economy of scale and top notch disaster respinse services could be provided.

Unfortunately, post 911, many departments and agencies such as the Westchester Tech Rescue Team have played on the heartstrings and fears of the public and politicians and have asked for and gotten federal funding which has taken away from legitimate assets.

[billfitz 109]

John Flynn is correct - not only the first WTC bombing, Oklahoma City & the Sarin Nerve agent attack in Japan - created the first programs to prepare this country - it was then known as the "Domestic Preparedness Program" also known as the Nunn, Lugar, Domenici act named after the congressional delegation who originally sponsored it - it was based on 120 cities. Post 9/11 DHS was created and took control over all grant progams. It was more threat based - versus just the 120 populated areas. Even the AFG's are under the umbrella of DHS.