DATE=9/17/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-307625

TITLE=NY/U-S MAYORS CONFERENCE (L-only)

BYLINE=KERRY SHERIDAN

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

INTRO: A report by the U-S Conference of Mayors says too many cities have not received federal homeland security funds, in part because the money is funneled through at the state level and is slow to reach the cities. Kerry Sheridan has the story from V-O-A's New York Bureau.

TEXT: The United States's largest federal homeland security fund amounts to one-point-five billion dollars, and is supposed to bolster fire, police and other units that are the first to respond in case of a terrorist attack or other large scale disaster. According to recent legislation, a portion of the money should reach cities within 45 days of distribution at the state level. About half has already been dispersed. But only ten percent of U-S cities surveyed by the U-S Conference of Mayors have received money from this fund.

The head of the U-S Conference of Mayors James Garner says large urban areas need funding, because they are the likeliest terrorist targets.

/// GARNER ACT ///

Cities are the first to respond but the last in line to receive funding.

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One hundred sixty eight cities, representing all fifty states, responded to the survey. Ten separate federal programs were covered, including the Port Security Grant Program, which allocates two-hundred-45 million dollars, and the Urban Area Security Initiative for High Threat Areas for six-hundred-million dollars. Many cities say the funds available only partially fill infrastructure, equipment, personnel and training needs. Fifty-eight percent of cities with ports say they are not receiving any funding at all.

Mayor Scott King of Gary, Indiana, says cities can't prepare without money.

/// KING ACT ///

I don't think our vision of homeland security should be, 'We're going to a hell of a job in cleaning up after a disaster.' I think we have to be focused on prevention in the first instance.

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Some cities surveyed also expressed concerns about their lack of involvement in the planning process regarding how monies should be spent.

Boston Mayor Martin O'Malley says the United States must be sure to fund against terror as much as at home as the country does abroad.

/// O'MALLEY ACT ///

What we're saying today is that our soldiers here on what the President has acknowledged is another front of this war -- the soldiers in America's cities, our fire, police and emergency medical personnel --deserve the same support with regard to their personal protective equipment, with regard to their communications and with regard to the intelligence and the support they need to save lives here in the United States.

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The U-S Conference of Mayors advocates creation of a direct funding distribution system, so that cities do not have to wait for their portion of money to come through the state level. (Signed)

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