New Jack City
September 29th, 2004, 01:52 AM
Yet another stupid move by Pataki...
NY1
Governor Turns Down $4.5 Million In FEMA Aid, Angering Democrats
http://www.ny1.com/Content/images/live/69/136542.jpg
A program to help police and firefighters still suffering from mental anguish after 9/11 would seem to have support from all sides, but like many things in this city, it's become the flashpoint in a heated political argument. NY1’s Rita Nissan explains in the following report.
New York politicians have never been known to turn down money from the federal government. So when Governor George Pataki said no to $4.5 million, Democrats were outraged.
“To take this money away is criminal from the part of the governor,” said Manhattan City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez.
The money is for a program called Project Liberty. It offers counseling for police and firefighters suffering from 9/11.
Senator Hillary Clinton convinced Republicans in Washington D.C. to let the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, cover the costs. But the legislation she drafted needed approval from the governor, and Pataki says he has other plans for the money.
So, the governor says - and the mayor agrees - the state and city will pay for the program; $2 million from the state, $2.5 million from the city.
Some Democrats say there's only one reason why the governor doesn't want to take the federal dollars - he doesn't want Clinton to get the credit. There's speculation Pataki wants to challenge Clinton in 2006, and that both may run for president in 2008.
“There's no logical reason why you'd want to turn down this money now because we need it,” said City Council Speaker Gifford Miller. “We are planning to provide these services, so it's either the federal government pays for it, or we pay for it.”
Democrats also fault Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Initially they say he helped secure the funds, then backed off when the governor asked him to.
“I don't know what city he's living in, but this city needs federal support,” said Miller.
The mayor and governor's office both say they rejected the plan because the money, part of a $25 million FEMA pledge to the city, is earmarked for other 9/11 related expenses.
All sides say it's unfortunate the matter has turned political, but when bragging rights and millions of dollars are at stake, that's what sometimes happens.
NY1
Governor Turns Down $4.5 Million In FEMA Aid, Angering Democrats
http://www.ny1.com/Content/images/live/69/136542.jpg
A program to help police and firefighters still suffering from mental anguish after 9/11 would seem to have support from all sides, but like many things in this city, it's become the flashpoint in a heated political argument. NY1’s Rita Nissan explains in the following report.
New York politicians have never been known to turn down money from the federal government. So when Governor George Pataki said no to $4.5 million, Democrats were outraged.
“To take this money away is criminal from the part of the governor,” said Manhattan City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez.
The money is for a program called Project Liberty. It offers counseling for police and firefighters suffering from 9/11.
Senator Hillary Clinton convinced Republicans in Washington D.C. to let the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, cover the costs. But the legislation she drafted needed approval from the governor, and Pataki says he has other plans for the money.
So, the governor says - and the mayor agrees - the state and city will pay for the program; $2 million from the state, $2.5 million from the city.
Some Democrats say there's only one reason why the governor doesn't want to take the federal dollars - he doesn't want Clinton to get the credit. There's speculation Pataki wants to challenge Clinton in 2006, and that both may run for president in 2008.
“There's no logical reason why you'd want to turn down this money now because we need it,” said City Council Speaker Gifford Miller. “We are planning to provide these services, so it's either the federal government pays for it, or we pay for it.”
Democrats also fault Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Initially they say he helped secure the funds, then backed off when the governor asked him to.
“I don't know what city he's living in, but this city needs federal support,” said Miller.
The mayor and governor's office both say they rejected the plan because the money, part of a $25 million FEMA pledge to the city, is earmarked for other 9/11 related expenses.
All sides say it's unfortunate the matter has turned political, but when bragging rights and millions of dollars are at stake, that's what sometimes happens.