Sharp cut in funds sparks port outrage (Boston)

[Eugene]

(Boston Globe)

Sharp cut in funds sparks port outrage
Homeland Security rates Hub as low risk

By Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Correspondent | October 14, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The port of Boston will receive only $147,750 from the federal
government for security enhancements next year, a sharp decrease from the
$8.3 million it received over the previous four years, in a cut that has
prompted outrage from port officials and Massachusetts lawmakers.

The cut was largely due to the Department of Homeland Security assigning Boston
its lowest possible risk ranking this year, putting it in the same category
as landlocked cities like Mount Vernon, Ind., and Huntington, W.Va., and making
it ineligible for many federal grants.

"Of course we're disappointed," said Danny Levy, a spokeswoman for Massport.
Levy said the port had applied for federal money for a camera surveillance system
to inspect incoming shipments at Conley Container Terminal and Black Falcon Cruise
Terminal, a request she said was rejected without explanation.

-snip-

This year was the first time a four-tier ranking system was used by the department
to allocate $168 million in security grants to at-risk port facilities. Boston,
which is the nation's 11th largest container port, was designated a Tier 4 port,
the lowest possible rating, despite regular shipments of liquefied natural gas to a
terminal in Everett.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/10/14/sharp_cut_in_funds_sparks_port_outrage

[bluestateguy]

1. Punishment for being a dark blue state

I'm sure they looked at a Blue-Red county map from 2004 before deciding how to dole out the money.

[fooj]

2. This is ridiculous. These rat bastards never know when to quit.

:grr:

One more reason to run the bums out.