BOSTON (AP) - Nearly a year after the city promised $3.6 million in homeland security funding to eight surrounding communities, officials in those cities and towns say they remain under-prepared for a terrorist attack because they're still waiting for three-quarters of the money.
As the lead city in a group of nine communities, Boston was responsible for sharing a $15.4 million federal homeland security grant awarded in 2003 to Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Quincy, Revere and Winthrop.
The money was intended to help protect police, firefighters, EMTs and victims in the event of a terrorist attack or other disaster.
Only a third of the grant has been spent, The Boston Globe reported Monday, and most of it on Boston. The other eight communities have received just $939,380
"I'm disappointed,'' Cambridge Fire Chief Gerald R. Reardon said. ``Part of the job here is to make sure all the departments get the appropriate equipment to make the city a safer and better place.''
Everett Mayor David Ragucci said the situation is particularly dire for his city, home to a liquefied natural gas port. The terminal has long been the source of terrorism fears, and a federal report made public last week details the devastation likely if the port were to be targeted.
"Everett has quite a burden placed on it in trying to protect itself, its citizens, and the important infrastructure that supports the economy of our state,'' Ragucci told the Globe.
Boston's homeland security director blamed the lapse on preparations for the Democratic National Convention last summer, which used up time and resources that might have been directed elsewhere. Carlo A. Boccia said officials in the other eight communities were involved in the decision to put Boston first.
"That's a one-time deal,'' Boccia said. "It will never happen again -- not while I'm running this.''
