Gotham Gazette

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Urban Issues: Anti-Terrorism


URBAN ISSUES - ANTI-TERRORISM

• Aid for Local Police
• Patriot Act

John Edwards

Edwards proposes a $50 billion aid package to cities and states, including $10 billion specifically for homeland security efforts.

Although Edwards voted for the U.S. Patriot Act, which gives government and law enforcement officials broader use of surveillance in an effort to fight terrorism, he now says it should be amended to protect civil liberties.

John Kerry

Kerry proposes a federal program that would reimburse cities for costs of increased emergency and security efforts during times of high national security alert. He also advocates for a fund to hire 100,000 new firefighters across the country and give them updated communication equipment. He would make security a higher priority for the National Guard and AmeriCorps.

Although Kerry voted for the U.S. Patriot Act, which gives government and law enforcement officials broader use of surveillance in an effort to fight terrorism, he now says it should be amended to protect civil liberties.

Dennis Kucinich

Kucinich advocates cutting the Pentagon budget by 15 percent and spending the money on a Department of Peace that would work internationally and locally to reduce violence.

Kucinich would repeal the U.S. Patriot Act, which gives government and law enforcement officials broader use of surveillance in an effort to fight terrorism.

Al Sharpton

Sharpton would decrease military spending and focus on diplomatic efforts to win peace at home.

He would repeal the U.S. Patriot Act, which gives government and law enforcement officials broader use of surveillance in an effort to fight terrorism.

George W. Bush

President Bush created the federal Department of Homeland Security after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The department provides some funding for state and local governments to help cover the costs of increased security. In the past two years, the Department of Homeland Security has provided New York City with $180 million to fund antiterrorism programs. President Bush promised to increase funding by 10 percent next year. Many officials in New York City say that the federal funding has not even come close to covering New York City's expenses. New York currently receives fewer homeland security dollars per person than 48 other states and American Samoa.

Bush signed the U.S. Patriot Act, which gives government and law enforcement officials broader use of surveillance in an effort to fight terrorism. He says the act is needed to fight the war on terrorism, but critics say it violates civil liberties and unfairly discriminates against immigrants.

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GOTHAM GAZETTE’S RELATED ARTICLES


• Urban Agenda: Anti-Terrorism Funding
• Security and New York City
• Debating the Patriot Act
• Patriot Act and Banking
• Special Registration



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