Oakland, Calif. (JTA) — Seattle was one of 18 cities (Milwaukee is not among them) that received a share of $14 million from the Department of Homeland Security’s 2005 budget to provide security for at-risk nonprofit groups. Virtually all the money is earmarked for enhanced security at Jewish organizations.
An additional $11 million from that budget went to non-Jewish nonprofit groups. The $25 million promised for 2006 has not yet been disbursed, and the 2007 budget is still being decided.
William Daroff, vice president for public policy at the United Jewish Communities and the group’s top Washington lobbyist, said that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff pledged three weeks ago to release the 2006 funds, but nothing has happened yet.
On Tuesday, two Jewish groups joined U.S. senators in calling on the Homeland Security Department to release those funds withheld due to bureaucratic issues.
Representatives from the Orthodox Union and United Jewish Communities joined Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) at a news conference to demand that the $25 million grant program be distributed promptly.
Daroff’s office also has asked for a $25 million increase to the 2007 budget, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“What the Seattle murder brings home is exactly what I’ve been talking about,” he said “It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize that Jewish institutions are front and center on terrorist lists.”
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