Rachel Shapiro Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York City and New York State will get a combined $258 million in federal money for anti-terrorism funding this year, Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Tuesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is giving almost $181 million to the city through its Urban Areas Security Initiative and giving almost $77 million to the state through its Homeland Security Grant Program to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism in high-threat, high-density urban areas.
Urban Areas Security Initiative “is the cornerstone of effective prevention against terrorist threats. It enables NYPD to do all they can to keep New Yorkers safe and secure,” Schumer said in a statement. “We all know that New York City remains one of the top terrorist targets and this increase in funding will help better protect our city. I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has recognized the importance of this investment.”
The funding in fiscal year 2015 is more than in 2014, when the city got $178 million for Urban Areas Security Initiative and the state got $76 million from the State Homeland Security Grant Program.
“New York City remains the top terror target in the nation and we must continue to be vigilant in investing federal resources to keep us safe,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “Maintaining these critical anti-terror funds will help arm law enforcement with the necessary resources needed to protect New York families.”
