A statewide firefighter’s union pushed Boston metropolis councilors Tuesday to take up and settle for simply over $13 million in federal counter-terrorism grant {dollars} which have ignited debate at City Hall and even on Beacon Hill.
In a letter to councilors, Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts President Richard MacKinnon Jr. and Secretary-Treasurer Billy Cabral urged native lawmakers to place apart their disagreements after the cash was stalled earlier this month.
“We ask that the Boston City Council put aside its internal political fights and do its job to protect the interests of the citizens and visitors of Boston and the surrounding communities,” the letter stated, a replica of which was obtained by the Herald.
Seven votes have been wanted on the council to shuttle the {dollars} to Boston’s Emergency Management Office to assist stop, reply to, and get better from terrorism threats, “including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents,” Mayor Michelle Wu stated in a word to the council. But the physique discovered themselves deadlocked in a 6-6 vote on the grant.
The rejected grant would have funded the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region, which covers Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop.
A spokesperson for Wu beforehand instructed the Herald the mayor plans to refile the grant within the new 12 months after new members of the City Council are sworn in subsequent month.
Firefighters from the cities and cities lined by the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region stated they’re “the first line of defense to respond to threats of acts of terrorism.”
“Without proper training and resources, metro Boston firefighters will not be able to effectively protect lives and property in the event of potential terrorist attacks,” the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts letter stated, which was additionally signed by union leaders from Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop.
At a council assembly earlier this month, some councilors who voted in opposition to the grants stated they wished extra info on how the cash can be spent and raised considerations about how the funds can be used for surveillance.
Councilor Liz Breadon beforehand instructed the Herald she wished extra readability on how the {dollars} can be used for pure disasters.
“Given the recent history with what happened this summer in New York and then in Leominster, natural disasters, inundation of the waterfront in a big storm or all of those things,” she stated. “It’s really just, I need some more information. And that’s all that was about. There’s no nefarious motive there.”
Boston City Council President Ed Flynn the {dollars} are “critical to Boston and our region.”
“Our safety is now on the line, no matter your zip code. Public safety impacts everyone and now is the time to provide positive leadership for Greater Boston residents,” Flynn stated in a press release to the Herald.
The federal grant additionally drew the help of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the general public coverage workplace of the 4 Roman Catholic Dioceses in Massachusetts.
The convention’s govt director, James Driscoll, stated in a letter to Flynn that the funds are “critical” to the safety of state residents.
“Along with many public venues, houses of worship, particularly synagogues, are prime targets for terrorist attacks. The threat has increased dramatically since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7 this year,” Driscoll wrote in a letter dated Tuesday.
Previous Herald supplies have been used on this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”