January 19, 2007
The Honorable Michael Chertoff
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC, 20528
Dear Secretary Chertoff,
As Governors of New York and New Jersey, we understand we have no greater duty than to protect our citizens. We appreciate the importance of the partnership we have with the federal government for funding the critical needs of New Jersey and New York.
Given the public's awareness of the continued threats faced by our cities and states and the uproar that resulted when New York City's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding was cut nearly in half in FY06, we are sure you can appreciate the concern that exists with respect to how the region will fare in the next round of funding. The recent grant guidance which grouped New York and New Jersey into one UASI region has raised concerns over whether this will translate in to fewer dollars for both states. We also, however, recognize that this regional formulation presents an opportunity for true bi-state preparedness.
Although separate applications will still be submitted, we have pledged to work in a cooperative manner to protect the people and the critical assets in the Greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Our states will work together with the City of New York in identifying the region's funding priorities. We see this as an opportunity to maximize regional strength and resources. Still, we are mindful there could be a temptation, through combining the risk analysis, to reduce the overall level of funding awards. That would be a grave mistake and would serve only to undermine the public's confidence while creating a disincentive for regional cooperation.
Ultimately, the people we represent expect their government public safety efforts to be coordinated across jurisdictional boundaries -- particularly because those who would do us harm consider such boundaries artificial. It is our fervent hope that this year's allocations will be made based on threat, risk and regional strength rather than geographic divide.
The letter was signed "Very truly yours, Eliot Spitzer, Governor and Jon Corzine, Governor."
