Okay - so this is really troubling (just like all the other things that we read about nowadays). "Let's make sure we scare poor communities and point out the evil-doers also! Let's drop money into these communities in the name of homeland security, when their homes aren't secure from the onset of gentrification and the ever-rising cost of living while wages continue to stagnate. Oh wait - their homes are the ones near the chemical, biological, and nuclear plants. Maybe we don't have to worry as much about people trying to push us out of those homes. But they have even more at stake with terrorism - because after all, there's nothing worse than those so-called environmental terrorists who want nothing more than to target these facilities also. And then where would you be? To arms, poor folks of America! Pledge the flag and find those who want to destroy your way of life. Anything so you forget who's responsible for oppressing you and making you have to live that way of life."
In order to address the threat of terrorism to America's low-income communities, many of which are located near power plants, chemical factories, and transportation centers, the Community Action Partnership, a national anti-poverty program, has created the Community Land Security program. Local versions of the program are currently operating in Middlesex County, New Jersey; Bolivar County, Mississippi; and Knox County, Kentucky; and will soon be expanding to more communities across the country.
The partnership is offering seven $10,000 grants that will help Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across the United States implement and manage Community Land Security programs in their communities. CAAs must complete an application and be able to raise $10,000 in matching funds in order to be considered. The partnership will provide the selected CAAs with onsite training for implementing the program and ongoing technical assistance.
Eligible applicants are Community Action Agencies (i.e., recipients of Community Services Block Grant 90 percent pass-through funding) that are members in good standing of the Community Action Partnership at the time of application.
Visit the Community Action Partnership Web site for information on the partnership and to download the Community Land Security Notice of Funding Availability. Available here [pdf]
2 comments:
The money comes from a block grant from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services - "Office of Community Service Grants." So the money isn't coming from private sources, or even from the Dept. of Homeland Security's fat budget, but rather, this is being sold as an "anti-poverty" program (contributing to the further stripping away of the last of the New Deal programs.
It's only 7 grants of $10,000, and one of the main bullets is to help low-income communities "report suspicious people and activities." I just find it troubling for the origination fo the grant, the fact that it's not really very much money, and the ongoing diversion of government funds towards these kinds of activities.
I mean - what if the interpretation is, we'll fund a "minuteman squad" in these communities to keep their eyes open for terrorists, when a good job training/education program would be more useful?
Plus, disaster preparedness seems to be so overplayed - maybe I just have fatigue from all the Red Cross programs.
yeah - that's really my fear too. And I forgot about the matching aspect of it. ARGH!!!
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