(New York-WABC, February 23, 2004) — As New York City scrambles to cover security costs to protect against another terror attack, Eyewitness News has found millions in taxpayer dollars going to protect some of the nation's wealthiest companies.
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Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano says that's money he could use. He's got numerous high-risk targets including the Indian Point nuclear plant and New York City's reservoirs, yet has only received a couple hundred thousand in direct security grants.
Andrew Spano: "Why the federal government would give us something like $200,000 -- which is what we have gotten -- and they give millions and millions to companies that are making exceptional amounts of money this year is beyond me."
Our analysis of Port Security documents show that some of the nation's most profitable oil companies received $66 million in grants. Money from the Department of Homeland Security to pay for fencing, cameras, and gates around big oil's refineries.
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...only 15 percent of the half billion dollars in grants go to oil companies. Still that's $66 million that could go to those who really need it, like the local police chiefs we spoke with. None of whom say they have received any money from Homeland Security.
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We should note that the nuclear power industry, which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on its own security, has not received any grants from Homeland Security.
This shows how seriously the Bush administration takes its so-called "War on Terror" — not at all.
