Cities say they haven't seen anti-terror funding yet

The U.S. Conference of Mayors Wednesday released the results of a survey finding that 90 percent of cities have not received any of $1.5 billion in U.S. funding approved this year to help first responders prepare for a terrorist attack, according to a report in The New York Times.

The survey, conducted last month among almost 170 cities, also found that more than half of local governments had not been consulted by state officials over how U.S. counterterrorism funding would be spent, the Times reported. During a press conference yesterday in New York, mayors criticized state governments, not Washington, for the delays in receiving funding.

"Nine-one-one does not ring at the statehouse; it rings at city hall," said Mayor James Garner of Hempstead, N.Y. "Cities are the first to respond in a crisis, but last in line for funds. We need direct funds," Garner said.

Christine LaPaille, spokeswoman for the National Governors Associated, denied that state governments were needlessly delaying providing counterterrorism funding to cities. She also said that the Bush administration and Congress had been correct to distribute federal funds through state governments.

"States are the only players sitting at the homeland security table that are in a position to take the lead in formulating regional strategic plans that protect our communities," LaPaille said.