[Liz]

"There's an approved list of equipment that can be bought with Homeland Security funding, and garbage trucks are not on that list," said departmentspokesman, Marc Short. "If it's true, we'll make sure we take measure to ensure that the dollars are returned."

Is the Dumbocrat mayor also gonna return the kickbacks he pocketed from the purchase? (/sarc)

[Kewlhand`tek]

he will spin it as:
If there is no trash pick up it breeds terrorism.

[skinkinthegrass]

Is the Dumbocrat mayor also gonna return the kickbacks he pocketed from the purchase? (/sarc)

w/o a doubt, perhaps the Entire Top (/Bottom?) of that crimminal organization should be investigated.

[RightOnline]

I swear, Democrats are just jaw-droppingly stupid.

[RushLake]

This is not unique. Democrap congressman Bart Stupak facilitated several tens of thousand of Homeland Security dollars to Montmorency County Michigan a couple of years ago. Montmorency County is in northern Michigan and has a population of about 8000. I own property there and spend lots of time there. I've driven all over the county looking for the B-52 base or the battleship since the county announced it had the funding and have had no luck locating such security devices. I supsect ol Bart has taken care of all of the countys in his district this way too.

[OldFriend]

In NYC, police commissioner Scopetta said on TV one day that he was going to get creative with the homeland security funding and set up some diversity programs.

Exactly what that means, I have no idea. Clearly the homeland security funding has been used for many things NOT security related.

In Colorado the funds were used to build a recreation center for rescue personnel and/or firefighters.

[G.Mason]

Newark, N.J. has been but a third world like area since the riots in '67-'68', however I did find it necessary to trek into the "Down Neck" and the "Bloomfield Avenue" sections occasionally, to get good food.

The things we do for love.

[THEUPMAN]

What do you want a bet that the purchases will be justified as in the scope of the intent?

Hav'nt you realised it yet ? There is nothing outside the jurisdiction of "homeland security". It is the polititians ultimate cry.

[BB2]

...and these paper clips "could" be used on reports following a terrorist act...this limo is "potentially" to be used as an ambulance following a disaster caused by Bin Laden.

[Fierce Allegiance]

While it does sound like a misuse of money, it really could be a way to keep an eye on terrorists. Properly trained agents could find out a lot about people via their trash and the trucks could be set up with surveillance equipment.

It is more likely a mom & pop will get busted for some BS charge than any terrorist capture though.

[mewzilla]

Voters should keep this is mind the next time Hilliary calls for still more 9-11 spending.

[Onyxx]

I'm simply stunned.

Bump for later discussion

[hoosierham]

The trucks are for riot control;"Soylent Green".

Well. I know there is some soiled green changing hands.

[sevry]

Not to mention that it's illegal to buy garbage trucks with a Homeland Security grant, says the department.

Yeah, it's also illegal to do what Rather did with forged documents, and attempting to steal a Presidential election. But I don't see anyone prosecuting his . . A#$@. So this mayor acted like a typ. Dem. He knew he could get away with it. All he has to suffer is a few wagging fingers of disapproval. And then everyone forgets about it.

You government at work.

[Calpernia]

Here's another one. And they wonder WHY they can't get more Federal Funding.

Newark Uses Federal Anti-terrorism Money to Buy Garbage Trucks

(Trenton, March 15, 2005) — Republicans are trashing Newark for using homeland security money to buy ten new air conditioned garbage trucks.

Angry GOP lawmakers are calling it a misuse of money and have asked New Jersey's Democratic Senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg to denounce the practice.

A Newark city spokeswoman says the trucks have special features that would make them useful in a disaster.

The nation's Homeland Security says the money shouldn't have been used to buy trash trucks and the city might have to return the cash.

The trucks costs $1.7 million. But the spokeswoman isn't saying how much of that came from Homeland Security and from the city budget.

Acting Governor Codey and the state's congressmen have criticized the Homeland Security funding formula, saying it short changes the Garden State relative to the risk of terrorist threats.

---

Lawmakers blast Newark garbage truck purchases using anti-terror funds

March 14, 2005, 7:23 PM EST

TRENTON, N.J. -- After learning that the City of Newark used federal anti-terrorism money to help pay for 10 new garbage trucks, state lawmakers on Monday called for tighter controls on how homeland security grants are spent.

The legislators, all Republicans, called on New Jersey's two Democratic U.S. senators, Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, to "condemn Newark's misuse of homeland security funds" and "ask why the federal government would send more money when the money New Jersey has is wasted."

Morris County Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio accused Newark officials of using poor judgment _ "especially since they live quite literally in the shadows of 9/11."

"It goes to the heart of credibility," Pennacchio said. "You can't say we're buying garbage trucks on one hand and we're not getting enough homeland security money on the other."

Lautenberg spokesman Alex Formuzis said Monday night that the senator would withhold comment until he learned more about how Newark had spent its anti-terrorism funds. Corzine was traveling and available for comment Monday, his office said.

Homeland Security said Monday that it is unclear whether the purchase of garbage trucks violated the terms of the city's grant because it's not clear exactly where the money came from. But federal Homeland Security funds could not be used to buy garbage trucks, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Marc Short said.

Short said there are no records indicating that Newark used federal Homeland Security grants to buy the trucks.

"There's an approved list of equipment that can be bought with Homeland Security funding, and garbage trucks are not on that list," he said. "If it's true, we'll make sure we take measure to ensure that the dollars are returned."

Newark put out a press release last month touting its new trucks as the city's "newest tool in keeping the city clean." The trucks, equipped with air conditioning, comfortable seating and power windows, cost $174,804 each "and were paid for from the from the city's capital budget and Homeland Security grants," according to the press release.

City spokeswoman Donna Purnell defended the purchases Monday, saying the trucks are equipped with special features that would make them valuable in a disaster.

"They're not your typical garbage trucks," she said. "They have special apparatus on them for handling waste and debris. These machines are to be used in the event of a major cleanup."

She did not specify how much of the $1.7 million purchase total came from anti-terror funds or what pool of money was used.

Short and state Office of Counterterrorism spokesman Roger Shatzkin said safeguards are in place to prevent anti-terror money from being spent inappropriately. They said the funds Newark used for the trucks could have come directly from the Justice Department after 9/11.

The governor and state congressional leaders have been lobbying for more federal anti-terrorism funding after the Homeland Security Department announced millions in cuts from New Jersey's allocation.

[DoctorMichael]

Dock his pay.