Assemblyman Lancman Shocked
By Governor’s Refusal to Study Options For Helping New York
Religious and Civic Institutions Protect Against Terrorism
Assemblyman Rory Lancman criticized Governor David
Paterson’s veto of the Non-Profit Homeland Security Preparedness Study
Act (A.9683/S.6721),
which required the state Office of Homeland Security (OHS) to “study,
evaluate and make recommendations in writing . . . regarding the
universe of state resources available to assist not-for-profit
institutions in hardening their facilities through a state
not-for-profit grant program, create criteria of eligibility of such
program, and create criteria to conduct risk or vulnerability assessment
on not-for-profit organizations throughout the state.” The Act also
required OHS to hold public hearings to solicit testimony about the
anti-terrorism resource needs of non-profits. The Act did not
appropriate any money, and its passage would have had no fiscal impact
on the state.
“At a time when the
NYPD is warning
of possible threats to Jewish and other institutions in New York City as
a result of tensions in the Middle East and around the world, the
Governor’s refusal to simply study the issue without pledging any of the
state’s money and analyze the potential vulnerabilities of religious,
educational and cultural institutions in light of existing state
programs is completely irresponsible,” said Lancman.
The Act was supported by a diverse group of
organizations and institutions, including UJA-Federation of New York and
the Jewish Community Relations Council; Lincoln Center for the
Performing Arts; Museum of Modern Art; National Council of Young Israel;
Brooklyn Museum; Queens Botanical Gardens; Queens Museum of the Arts;
Queens Hall Of Science; Metropolitan Council of Jewish Poverty; Museum
of Natural History; New York City Center; and the Queens Council on the
Arts
Assemblyman Lancman concluded, “Non-profit groups
preserve our culture, feed the hungry and educate our children—they are
the lifeblood of our community and the Governor’s decision puts them at
risk.”
