Funneling of security funding questioned

By Warren Cornwall
Seattle Times Eastside bureau

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Emergency-management officials say efforts over the last three years have brought much needed dollars to bolster preparations after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

But some have raised questions about whether these dollars are going where they are most needed. The city of Seattle has voiced concerns that funding doesn't give enough weight to the additional risks faced by the largest city in the region.

Where the money goes Homeland-security grants for King County-area governments over the past three years Auburn $162,618 Bellevue $1,793,321 Bothell $42,740 Burien $5,549 Carnation $5,316 Covington Water District $114,766 Duvall $9,061 Eastside Fire & Rescue $697,277 Federal Way $254,150 Highline Water District $247,280 Issaquah $100,586 Kenmore $30,040 Kent $328,083 Kirkland $631,518 Lake Forest Park $25,300 Lakehaven Utility District $46,438 Maple Valley $22,752 Medina/Hunts Point $122,839 Mercer Island $19,999 Muckleshoot Tribe $15,290 Overlake Hospitals $28,997 Redmond $6,000 Renton $173,129 Sammamish $225,075 SeaTac $1,875 Seattle $1,345,089 Seattle, Port of $241,139 Shoreline $105,469 Snoqualmie $31,997 Tukwila $336,102 Vashon Island Fire & Rescue $7,320 Water District #111 $370,906 Woodinville $15,416 Note: This is only a portion of federal homeland-security funds provided to King County governments. It includes money distributed through a countywide committee, but not money given directly to cities such as Seattle. Totals may not reflect all money collected by a particular city. For example, Redmond joined a consortium of northeast King County cities to apply for grants, but applied through the city of Kirkland. That put the dollars collected into Kirkland's collections. Source: King County Office of Emergency Management

"The threat to your particular area is an important variable in the equation," said Edsonya Charles, a senior adviser to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "Our concern is that the threat be taken into account."

A new analysis of $7.5 million of homeland-security grants passed on to local jurisdictions gives insight into how widely that money is being distributed. Carnation, Maple Valley and Woodinville have all been beneficiaries, though to widely varying degrees.

"We're trying to make sure that funding goes to those areas of the county that have the greatest needs and articulate a picture of how those are going to be used," said Eric Holdeman, director for King County's Office of Emergency Management. His office released the analysis yesterday. The figures, which account for less than 20 percent of the total federal money funneled to the Seattle area for homeland security, represent grants given to local governments by a countywide committee.

Suburban emergency officials say they face potential threats just as Seattle does. And if there is a major emergency anywhere in the county, they could be called on to help.

"It may be in the city of Duvall that there are not very attractive targets for terrorists," said Barb Graff, emergency-preparedness manager for the city of Bellevue. "But there are a handful of Duvall firefighters who are part of the Eastside hazardous materials team."

The debate reveals tension among jurisdictions over where security money would be best spent. New York City officials and other major metropolitan areas have echoed Seattle's complaints that much needed money is being spread too thin. Others have responded that urban areas are not the only places at risk.

"I don't know that we have any facility or structure that would be attacked. But you never know. There may be some other person or thing that would get them the publicity they want," said Dick Baranzini, police chief in Sammamish.

His city proved adept at winning grants — about $225,000 over the past three years. The money is earmarked for security at the new city hall — including locks and security cameras, radios that will enable officials in different city departments and two school districts to communicate with police and fire fighters, and locks and alarms for parts of the drinking water system.

Seattle has received well over $20 million in federal money, according to Charles, Nickels' adviser. The city's concerns about equity have been eased recently, said another Seattle official.

"My own personal opinion is we have made significant progress getting those issues addressed," said Brent Wingstrand, assistant chief in the Seattle Police Department.

Various factors determine where the money goes, Holdeman said. In part, it depends on how much money is asked for.

"This is America. So we can buy the horse trough, we can fill it with water, we can bring water to the horse, we can show the water to the horse, but nobody's holding the horses head under the water to make it drink," Holdeman said.

Warren Cornwall: 206-464-2311 or wcornwall@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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