http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2308594&u_rnd=5414724
Published Friday
January 5, 2007
BY KAREN SLOAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Omaha off Homeland Security grant list
Omaha scored big last year with a $8.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fight terrorism, but there won't be a large payoff this year.
Homeland Security this morning announced the cities that will be eligible for its Urban Area Security Initiative grants for 2007, and Omaha is not on the list, said Don Thorson, an assistant to Mayor Mike Fahey.
"This announcement wasn't totally unexpected," Thorson said.
Homeland Security had indicated that the money paid out for 2006 would need to sustain Omaha's efforts through 2007 and possibly beyond, he said.
"Still, we were hopeful that we would be put back on the list this year," Thorson said.
Omaha is among several cities that won't get a big handout from Homeland Security. Toledo, Ohio, Baton Rouge, La., and Louisville, Ky., also were dropped from the list of eligible cities.
While Thorson said the announcement is disappointing, he said it's positive that Homeland Security doesn't consider Omaha to be at "high risk" for terrorism. The city had previously highlighted Offutt Air Force Base as a possible terrorist target, among other places.
Local officials have acknowledged that Omaha received its money largely because it developed a comprehensive plan for how the funds would be used to respond to terrorism. That plan covers Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties.
Omaha received $5.1 million in urban grant money in 2005 and $8.3 million last year. The money has been used to improve emergency communications and purchase high-tech equipment for local agencies.
Omaha's grant last year prompted criticism from leaders in cities that saw their Homeland Security grant money slashed, such as New York. Its funding was cut 40 percent.
House Democrats have said they will introduce a bill this year that would revise the way Homeland Security allocates funding. The formula would favor cities and towns with a high risk of terrorism and would funnel more money to large cities such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston.
While Omaha won't be eligible for urban grant money, it still will be able to apply for grants from other Homeland Security programs, Thorson said.
Published Friday
January 5, 2007
BY KAREN SLOAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Omaha off Homeland Security grant list
Omaha scored big last year with a $8.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fight terrorism, but there won't be a large payoff this year.
Homeland Security this morning announced the cities that will be eligible for its Urban Area Security Initiative grants for 2007, and Omaha is not on the list, said Don Thorson, an assistant to Mayor Mike Fahey.
"This announcement wasn't totally unexpected," Thorson said.
Homeland Security had indicated that the money paid out for 2006 would need to sustain Omaha's efforts through 2007 and possibly beyond, he said.
"Still, we were hopeful that we would be put back on the list this year," Thorson said.
Omaha is among several cities that won't get a big handout from Homeland Security. Toledo, Ohio, Baton Rouge, La., and Louisville, Ky., also were dropped from the list of eligible cities.
While Thorson said the announcement is disappointing, he said it's positive that Homeland Security doesn't consider Omaha to be at "high risk" for terrorism. The city had previously highlighted Offutt Air Force Base as a possible terrorist target, among other places.
Local officials have acknowledged that Omaha received its money largely because it developed a comprehensive plan for how the funds would be used to respond to terrorism. That plan covers Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties.
Omaha received $5.1 million in urban grant money in 2005 and $8.3 million last year. The money has been used to improve emergency communications and purchase high-tech equipment for local agencies.
Omaha's grant last year prompted criticism from leaders in cities that saw their Homeland Security grant money slashed, such as New York. Its funding was cut 40 percent.
House Democrats have said they will introduce a bill this year that would revise the way Homeland Security allocates funding. The formula would favor cities and towns with a high risk of terrorism and would funnel more money to large cities such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston.
While Omaha won't be eligible for urban grant money, it still will be able to apply for grants from other Homeland Security programs, Thorson said.
