Honolulu to gain more anti-terror funding
Associated Press
WASHINGTON » A new round of federal anti-terror grants to cities shows big gains this year for some, such as San Diego, Phoenix and Denver, an increase for Honolulu and cuts for others, including Miami, Milwaukee, and Sacramento, Calif.
The anti-terror aid, expected to be announced today by the Department of Homeland Security, is an annual exercise that often leads to complaints from those cities that come up millions of dollars short, compared with the previous year.
An early copy of the national list of grant amounts to the 46 recipient cities was obtained yesterday by the Associated Press. A Homeland Security spokesman declined to comment.
According to the list given to lawmakers, Honolulu will receive $5.2 million, up from last year's $4.8 million.
Also on the winning side: Phoenix more than tripled its take, rising to nearly $12 million, Houston saw a 50 percent increase to $25 million, and the Twin Cities area of Minnesota almost doubled its share to $8.5 million.
Orlando, Fla., stands to lose more than $3 million of the $9 million it received last year, and Miami will lose a quarter of the $16 million it received in 2006. Milwaukee lost almost half its funding, a cut of nearly $4 million.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has repeatedly said cities should not compare one year's award with the next, because the program is designed to provide aid where the need is greatest.
The entire program came under intense criticism last year when the two cities struck hardest by the 2001 terror attacks, New York and Washington, each saw a 40 percent cut in funding.
This year, those two places get a boost.