WASHINGTON — New York lawmakers cheered President Obama yesterday for finally backing security programs for the city — including an array of nuke detectors at entry points — with a roughly $41 million increase for the Big Apple’s anti-terror programs included in his budget plan.
“New York wins big on homeland security funding in this budget,” proclaimed Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “After two years of fighting to increase these funding levels, I am pleased the administration is acknowledging that these programs work.”
Rep. Pete King (R-LI) also raved that Obama put in $24.9 million for a system of detectors encircling the city to monitor for nuclear weapons and dirty bombs. That’s a $6.4 million increase for a program Obama unsuccessfully tried to kill in his previous two budgets.
King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he was “pleased that the Obama administration has finally realized how critical the program is.”
Other anti-terror funds that would benefit the city include:
* $165.6 million for police surveillance cameras in lower Manhattan and Midtown — a $14.6 million increase.
* $117 million for transit security — an $18 million increase.
* $24.9 million in Port Security Grants — an increase of $2.2 million.