Posted on 06/05/2006 7:17:55 AM PDT by Carl/NewsMax
New York politicians allowed up to one-third of the $20 billion in federal aid awarded to the city in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to be squandered right under their noses, an analysis by the New York Daily News found last December.
But that hasn't stopped some of the same politicians from complaining all weekend about a mere $80 million cut in New York City's federal anti-terrorism budget.
Senators Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer and Rep. Peter King say they're outraged over the new cuts, with Clinton and King teaming up to launch a post-card writing campaign against the Department of Homeland Security.
The bipartisan duo sounded a lot less angry six months ago, when the News uncovered evidence that billions in 9/11 cash had been misspent, gone unaccounted for and, in at least one case, was awarded to the Mafia.
"I pledge to do whatever has to be done to find out what happened and why," an uncharacteristically meek-sounding King said at the time.
Mrs. Clinton sounded similarly unruffled, offering only: "I think we need to pursue some of the leads . . . to make sure every penny is properly used."
The News study found that:
• Up to one-third of the $21.4 billion in 9/11 cash awarded to New York by the White House had been earmarked for major transportation projects that had no connection to the devastation caused on 9/11.
• $150,000 was awarded to a securities firm that had gone out of business before the 9/11 attacks - plus millions more from the fund was earmarked for formerly self-supporting projects.
• $10 million in 9/11 cash was embezzled by a senior member of the New York medical examiners office.
• A 9/11 "clean air program" ended up giving away 118,000 air conditioners, when its original budget covered only 5,000 units. Total cost overrun - $115 million.
• An "associate" of the Luchese crime family allegedly got a piece of the 9/11 pie, dividing up anticipated reconstruction contracts with other New York City crime families. One mobbed-up 9/11 worker was listed as a $58,000 per year employee - even though he was in jail at the time.
• A whopping $154 million in grants and tax exempt Liberty Bonds was awarded to a single business - the Bank of New York. That small piece of the 9/11 jackpot represents nearly twice the amount of cuts in New York City's federal anti-terrorism budget.
Perhaps Mrs. Clinton can take some time away from her efforts to browbeat the DHS into restoring the $80 million in anti-terror cuts - and give New Yorkers an update on what happened to the billions in 9/11 aid that was squandered on her watch.
A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking about real money.
HMMMM *surprisingly* Schumer forgot to mention ANY of that when he was on Fox and Friends this morning.....just HMMMMMM....
susie
When I saw the title, I was a little bit suspicious this wasn't from the NYT.
I agree, the Friends didn't call him on any of it. For some reason they like him....
susie
Don't know why, but yes, really smells when they let the lefties drone on and on. I don't watch them too much anymore, I read all the great Freepers here, much better for the old blood pressure.
New York politicians allowed up to one-third of the $20 billion in federal aid awarded to the city in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to be squandered right under their noses, an analysis by the New York Daily News found last December.
That is impressive stuff. The DOD and the USDA used fight it over as the fiscal black holes in the Federal Government. But with the likes of Clinton, Schumer, and King, it looks like the Department of Homeland Security will give those other two money pits a challenge.
Well, my bp is usually very low, so I watch them just to get it up to normal, then I come here! ;)
susie
I would bet all I own every state did this. It is the way BIG GOV works. In Arkansas our little Hospital got a 75,000 TV that has video conference capability as did every other small hospital. Useless for homeland security But Hey the money was there the grants were written and the crap delivered. We will never use it.
Well, now we know why the media was screamin so loud last week. They were afraid their favorite kickbacks would be lost....
BTTT.
BTTT.
What if he had a job that paid him $58K and he was only doing 30 days for unpaid parking tickets?
Liars, thy name is Demonrat!
:}
P.S. The New York Firefighters and New York Law Enforcement and others that worked 911 sure could have used some of that money...........but the Clintons shafted them...........
Guess the terror twins arrested with thousands of dollars worth of guns in Michigan didn't happen either. After all, only NY deserves protection.
Gee. I'm shocked. How about you?
Who's the dopes administrating these funds? Bloomberg? Pataki? At least the Sheiks of Anbar Province have the excuse that they're in a a chaotic cash-only economy.
Well I’d certainly go down to help if something happens.
But people shouldn’t expect me to shy away from a camera to give people a piece of reality.
I wouldn’t say they squandered it, except maybe the Luchese money. They just spent it on stuff they wanted.
Seriously, The biggest use of money that I’ve observed in NYC since 9/11 was to tear up every street south of Canal Street and repair the infrastructure. Water mains, power cables, phone and TV, fiber optics, drains, new road surfaces, new curbs where needed, and all the rest.
Some of that was certainly due to 9/11 damage, which destroyed infrastructure in the immediate area, but some of it was simply neglected infrastructure repairs that the city lacked funds to fix. There’s a lot of infrastructure in Manhattan, and it’s not easy to keep up with when you’re eager to stuff more of your friends into the bureaucracy that sucks up most of the income from taxes.
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