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April 7, 2004
Bush and the City

The Nation has an interesting article on the Republicans attitude toward urban areas in general, and New York City specifically.

On a per capita basis, New York State ranks forty-ninth among the states in antiterrorist funding, far below rural, sparsely populated Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota.

According to the New York Daily News, New York is also forty-ninth in per capita funding among cities: $5.87 per person.

Compare that with $35.80 for Pittsburgh. But then, Tom Ridge was governor of Pennsylvania. Or look at Florida, where Jeb Bush is governor. Miami gets $52.82 per person. Orlando gets $47.14--as if Disney World is a bigger terrorist target than the New York subway system, the United Nations, the Stock Exchange, Times Square, JFK Airport, Yankee Stadium on opening day, or our reservoirs and water system.

What's the biggest recipient of any US city, at $77.92 per person? New Haven, Connecticut.

http://thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20040419&s=newfield

Hey, that's weird. What's in New Haven that's so special. Oh, wait, wait.. isn't that where Bush and his daddy went to college? Of course... an obvious terrorist target. TAKE THAT, ALMA MATER!!!

Also noted is how Bush has under funded the FDNY and NYPD. They requested $500 million to prepare to fully deal with the threats they face. So far they've received $60 million.

The FDNY has only one dedicated hazardous materials unit for the entire city of 8 million. Meanwhile, the fire department in Zanesville, Ohio (population 25,600), has federally funded thermal imaging technology to find victims in dense smoke and a test kit for lethal nerve gases. The FDNY is still asking for radios that work in a crisis.

And that's just the security stuff. Wait 'til you read about the hospitals and schools.

Posted by ahecht at April 7, 2004 11:05 AM
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