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TO URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT, DIRECT, AND FLEXIBLE HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IN GAHANNA AND WITHIN CENTRAL OHIO
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WHEREAS, City Council and the Mayor recognize that a strong federal, state, and local partnership will ensure that each level of government can perform our respective roles in protecting the citizenry; and
WHEREAS, direct funding to Gahanna will ensure that our frontline troops have immediate access to the flexible resources that we can allocate to our greatest areas of need; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna is working to provide additional emergency personnel, equipment, and training; and
WHEREAS, our first responders - police, fire, and EMS units - have the expertise and coordination to protect our public and are doing everything to keep our citizens safe; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna and other municipalities throughout the State of Ohio and United States need urgent and significant funding; and
WHEREAS, since September 11, 2001, the City of Gahanna has spent extra funds in overtime for safety forces, the purchase of equipment, upgrading facilities, improving training, and we expect these expenses to continue into the foreseeable future; and
WHEREAS, the $3.5 billion first responder program called for by President Bush was not included in the FY 2003 omnibus appropriations bill; and
WHEREAS, with any additional direct funding, we ask that this appropriation be considered a new and different program, not to be sent to us at the expense of law enforcement programs that are still required in the fight against crime; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna encourages its citizens to call and write members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation and the Homeland Security Department to request direct Homeland Security funding to local governments;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That this Council and Mayor does hereby urge the federal government to provide significant, direct, and flexible Homeland Security funding to local governments for first responders in Gahanna and within Central Ohio.
Section 2. That City Council and the Mayor request that copies of this resolution be distributed to the Ohio Congressional Delegation, Central Ohio Mayors and City Managers, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, and the US Conference of Mayors.
Section 3. That this resolution shall be in full force and effect upon passage by this Council.