DHS to split up South Florida security funding
The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it would allow antiterror funding in South Florida to be administered separately, ending a dispute between Miami-Dade and Broward counties that touched on security funding for Port Everglades.
The DHS said some Broward County law enforcement agencies could apply for separate DHS grants, meaning all South Florida funding would not be administered by officials in Miami. In 2005, Miami offered Broward County about $2.6 million, or about 10 percent, of a regional grant from the DHS for South Florida.
The dispute goes back for two years, and at one point last year Fort Lauderdale Congressman Clay Shaw gave a one-minute speech on the floor of the House of Representatives every day for nearly two weeks protesting the federal funding policy.
Several of the terrorists involved in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks lived in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Many of them, including leader Mohammed Atta, initially departed from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Atta resided in the Broward County city of Hollywood immediately before the attacks.
One of the primary concerns is the possibility of an attack at the fuel depot facilities at Port Everglades, which is a major distribution point for gas and oil.
The DHS said Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa would also be eligible for antiterror funds.
DHS to split up South Florida security funding
