2008 Grant Awards Reflect Greater DHS and State Maturity <http://hstoday.us/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=4473> <http://hstoday.us/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4473&pop=1&pag e=0&Itemid=128> <http://hstoday.us/index2.php?option=com_content&task=emailform&id=4473&item id=128> by David Silverberg
Wednesday, 30 July 2008 http://hstoday.us/index.php?option=com_content <http://hstoday.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4473&Itemid=128 > &task=view&id=4473&Itemid=128 More transparency and political sensitivity evident in this year's granting process. WASHINGTON, DC-The equanimity with which state and local homeland security officials are accepting this year's homeland security grant awards reflect a maturation in the program and better coordination between federal officials and their local counterparts-as well as satisfaction with more money. Nowhere is this more evident than in New York City and state, which are bellwethers for state and local reaction to grant awards. In previous years, state and local officials were blindsided by grant reductions, particularly in the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) program. The city of New York was particularly hard hit in 2006, with a 40 percent cut in its UASI awards, prompting bitter complaints from Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY). At the time King said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the administration had "declared war on New York City" and the grant levels were "a knife in the back." Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) called them "outrageous." This year the state of New York will be receiving $251 million through the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program, including $144 million for the New York City Urban Area. This is a $40 million increase over last fiscal year. What's more, the wealth was spread throughout the state thanks to the addition of 14 new Tier II urban areas added to the national roster of recipients. In New York state, that means $1.6 million for Syracuse and $1.46 million for Rochester, both for the first time. The Albany region will get $1.75 million after a long, grantless hiatus. New York Gov. David Paterson (D) called the 2008 awards "gratifying." Michael Balboni, state deputy secretary for public safety, said the awards were a recognition of the continuing threat to New York and the city and state's efforts to improve its preparedness and coordinate with federal authorities. The era of good feeling is extending around the country, where no significant complaints about this year's awards have been made public. In California, which received an $18 million increase over last year, bringing its awards to $260 million, Homeland Security Director Matthew Bettenhausen said he was "pleased" with this year's awards. San Francisco saw its UASI award increase by $3 million to $37.1 million. Obviously, with funds increasing rather than being slashed, there is general satisfaction with the program. However, this also reflects changes and greater political sensitivity on the part of DHS. In 2006 DHS based its grant awards on a mathematical formula built on an elaborate threat matrix. Although based on risk and peer review, state officials felt that grant criteria were opaque and coordination between federal, states and locals was minimal. DHS sensitivity to local political and programmatic needs was near-nonexistent. Burned by the vociferous reaction to the 2006 awards, since then there has been greater coordination between DHS and further efforts to make the grant process more transparent. On the state side, the mechanisms for applying, receiving and distributing grant money have matured as well. Less money has gone unobligated or unspent. Differences remain, of course. The long-term future of the grant program is uncertain given the change of administrations that will occur next year. Secretary Michael Chertoff has warned state homeland security directors that the grant program is not a bottomless well, while state directors respond that they have initiated programs in response to federal directives and congressional mandates but lack the state resources to maintain them and are dependent on continued federal support. Next year's awards will reflect the priorities of the new administration. Also, there will be new leadership at DHS and in many statehouses. One can only hope that the hard-learned lessons of the past five grant seasons will not be forgotten and that a whole new learning curve will not have to begin again from zero. (F)AIR USE NOTICE: All original content and/or articles and graphics in this message are copyrighted, unless specifically noted otherwise. All rights to these copyrighted items are reserved. 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