Anti-terror funds to protect big California ports decreasing

[tpsbmam]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/09/25/state/n202444D64.DTL&type=printable
or
http://snipurl.com/x76v

<snip>
Federal funding to protect California's biggest ports from terrorist attacks is decreasing dramatically this year, the Department of Homeland Security said Monday.

The twin-port complex of Los Angeles and Long Beach will get about $12 million in 2006, compared to about $24 million in 2005, though it's not clear yet how that will be divided between them.

Meanwhile, the port of Oakland is getting no grant money. The nation's fourth largest harbor and California's second largest, Oakland got about $2.9 million in 2005 and requested about $6 million for 2006.

<snip>

"This grant award decision is beyond outrageous, it is dangerous," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

"DHS has constantly said that their intent is to direct valuable homeland security funds to the nation's assets most at risk or where the consequences of an attack would have the most devastating effect," said Matthew Bettenhausen, head of the state's Office of Homeland Security. "Unfortunately, DHS has failed in this attempt."

The new money is meant to help ports guard against attacks by land or sea but is not designed to pay for cargo screening or container inspections.

<snip>

The money is part of nearly $400 million announced by the Bush administration Monday to protect seaports, commuter trains and other transit systems from terrorists, seeking to appease high-risk cities that suffered security funding cuts earlier this year.

[acmavm]

1. The bush** admin has a couple of wars to pay for. And a

couple on the drawing board. Having to tighten the old belt every and any way the can so they can go kill some more brown people and liberate them.

[pinniped]

2. * and his cronies are sooooooo full of shit.

They claim to be protecting the stupid homeland whatever and shit like this shows up.

I know they are FOS.

Maybe permanent tax cuts could solve this.

The money comes on top of security grants given to high-risk cities earlier this year that created controversy because funding to two of the highest-risk cities — New York and Washington — was cut by 40 percent.

This is more proof they don't give a shit.

Merkan tax dollars are better spent going to halliburton and the other war profiteering companies.