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Friday,
January 23, 2004 |
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Homeland
security funding too low
Cities
in need of money for ‘first responders’
A recent
survey released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found
that 76 percent of the 215 cities surveyed have yet to
receive any of the $1.5 billion in federal homeland security
funds designated for “first responder” teams
such as police and fire departments.
More frightening, however, is that cities in the survey
ranged from small cities with populations just over 12,000,
to large cities such as New York City.
As Sept. 11, 2001, proved, having well trained police
and fire departments is invaluable. The New York City
police and fire departments helped save thousands of lives,
and many paid the ultimate price.
If the government wants citizens to remain calm and go
about their daily lives throughout the constant fluctuation
of the terror-threat level, then we, the citizens, must
be assured that the government is doing all it can to
ensure our security.
Instead of appropriating billions of dollars for space
stations and inter-planetary missions, why not dedicate
money to adequately protecting American cities?
If our mayors need more money to help protect their cities,
give it to them. Mars can wait; it’s not going anywhere.
This money is not, and should not be considered a gift
either. It is a privelege and a testament to modern technology
that humans are able to investigate the universe. However,
it is an absolute necessity that we protect our cities.
By not providing American cities with the proper funds
to finance well trained responder teams, the government
has unnecessarily put lives at risk. While members of
the governement have re-iterated time and time again that
protecting the homeland is a top priority, their failure
to properly fund cities shows their promises are nothing
more than words. |
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