Battling Terrorism - PB County getting $1.4M for anti-terrorism projects

By Bill Douthat

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Palm Beach County appears to be in line to get $1.4 million plus some joint spending with Broward County for anti-terrorism projects over the next year.

The money, part of a $9.98 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is being discussed this week in regional meetings of anti-terrorism directors. Palm Beach County, shut out of Homeland Security money for the past two years, shares the grant with cities and emergency-response agencies in Broward County.

"Ten million is a lot of money, but when you spread it around it doesn't leave much on the table," said U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, R- Fort Lauderdale. Shaw appeared before the Broward County Commission Tuesday to lobby for Palm Beach County projects.

"We have to think regionally and not be parochial," Shaw said.

Palm Beach County's share will go to law enforcement, fire-rescue, the Port of Palm Beach and health agencies. Although the specific projects are ...

confidential, spending generally goes for training and equipment.

In addition to the $1.4 million, Palm Beach County will benefit from regional programs such as increased marine patrols on the coastline in coordination with the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

"We're already working with them on human trafficking, narcotics and anything else that comes across the ocean," said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. "If illegal aliens can come across the ocean, so can terrorists."

Half of the $1.4 million for Palm Beach County will go for law enforcement and the rest to other Palm Beach County first-response agencies.

The county has two members on a 11-member board meeting on how to divide the Homeland Security grant.

Palm Beach and Broward counties had requested about $34 million in Homeland Security money.