WEINER CONVENES TOWN HALL MEETING: CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT TERRORISM AT CITY’S JEWISH SCHOOLS

OUTLINES YESHIVA SECURITY PLAN

DEDICATED POLICE PATROLS FOR SCHOOLS THAT DEMONSTRATE HIGH RISK

New York City – Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), a member of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, convened a town hall meeting to address concerns raised about terrorism directed at Jewish schools.

Three years ago, the FBI warned that terrorists might use tanker trucks to attack Synagogues or Jewish day schools.

Since then, Jewish institutions in places like London and Montreal have been attacked.

With New York City on heightened alert after the series of attacks on the London subways, Weiner convened a town hall meeting with parents and religious leaders to address rising concerns about security at Jewish schools.

At the meeting, Weiner unveiled his Yeshiva security plan:

Federally Subsidized Vulnerability Assessments – Last year, federal legislation first suggested by Reps. Weiner and Nadler became law, providing federal funds to help non-profits like Yeshivas ramp up security. But to get it, most non-profits must pay for “vulnerability assessments” to prove that they are at risk of terror attack. The federal government should subsidize these assessments.

Dedicated Police Patrols for High Risk Targets – If a vulnerability assessment is conducted and shows a New York City Yeshiva to be a high risk target, it should get the benefit of dedicated police patrols.

Homeland Security Funding for Religious Institutions – Last year, more than 200 non-profits from New York City applied for federal anti-terror funding—if every one of the applications had been granted, it would have cost more than $20 million, or about $14 million more than the City actually got. Federal funds should be increased.

Expanded Uses of Security Funding -- There are more than a dozen uses that applicants for federal funds can apply for—but things like hiring security guards, training for staff, overtime and salaries aren’t included. Available uses for federal funding should be expanded.

“We know that the terrorists want to strike so called ‘soft targets’, often non-government institutions that just don’t have the funding or wherewithal to implement cutting edge security,” said Rep. Weiner. “Yeshiva’s should be safe places for our children to grow and learn. As Mayor, I’ll fight to keep them safe.”

Last year, Reps. Weiner and Jerold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the High Risk Nonprofit Security Enhancement Act of 2004, legislation to allocate homeland security dollars to non-profits, like Yeshivas.

$25 million was ultimately included in the FY 2005 budget for this purpose. The budget passed into law in October, 2004. $6.3 million was awarded to New York City, Westchester and Long Island.