The 2007 State Budget

THE NEW YORK STATE BUDGET: WHAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED?

Most citizens, who care to know, know what proposals are contained in the 2007 New York State Budget. Reduction of medicaid spending, property tax relief and increased state aid to education are all noble goals. What about Homeland Security?  All the other issues become quickly irrelevant, if state government  is not making a very definite and aggressive priority effort to keep New York and New Yorkers safe from further terror attacks.

What are likely targets?   New York City is probably at the top of the list, with it's port, subways, railroads, tunnels, bridges, financial district and water supply system presenting terrorists with a menu of vulnerable targets.

The City of Albany is a particularly soft target, with the container port, Capitol , social services and other state agency headquarters, hospitals and water system all prime targets.

Nuclear power plants in New York and adjoining states are of prime concern. The Indian Point reactors located on the Hudson River, just North of NYC, and the ones located upwind ,to the West of Albany, are all vulnerable.

Consider the locations of active nuclear plants: http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/

The NYS Power Pool nerve center in Guilderland, the state power grid, natural gas transmission lines, the NYS Thruway, and state rail system, including bridges, stations and rail yards, present a wide array of targets.

Go to: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/supplement/supmap.pdf

Water is essential to all life.  Urban water supplies are especially vulnerable. The NYC water supply system presents many opportunities for terrorists starting with Catskill reservoirs and dams, continuing through the aqueduct system and distribution points in the metro area. Can anyone imagine NYC without water for a week or more?

Go to:  http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dep/html/wsmaps.html   

In Albany, city and state politicians are touting a longer school day, and keeping schools open well into the evening (to babysit offsprings ofparents who are unable or unwilling to look after and care for their children). No one is taking steps to prepare schools to serve as neighborhood emergency centers providing shelter, food, water, heat etc in the event of major disasters or terror attacks.

The internet provides a wealth of information and technology to benefit law abiding citizen-learners. However, those intent on doing evil or harm can also use these internet resources to plan and perpetrate acts of terror and crimes.

Consider the latest version of satellite based google earth technology which allows anyone to zoom in on pin point locations in 3-D, including your backyard.

Go to: http://earth.google.com/earth4.html

This satellite computer technology, and that of our military, is at risk because  China and Russia are developing the capability to knock out or disable our satellites.

Could we one day find ourselves back in the stone age? Or, back to the future?

Wouldn't all the millions of dollars dumped in to a relatively insignificant special election in State Senate District 7, by politicians, political parties and special interests, have been better allocated to shoring up our state and local home land defense capabilities?

Might New York be steamrolled by the Al Qaida, Taliban ,and their foot soldiers, from the ranks of illegals and native-born malcontents, who are sworn to destroy us and our way of life?

Are New Yorkers really aware of their real life survivor dilemma, that far exceeds the trivia presented on the tv show of that name?

The real life version of survivor is for real, and there will not be any second chances. It won't matter what is in the state budget, or whether or not it is passed on time. It won't matter if the public school are open into the evening hours, if there is no electricity, heat, food , water, or emergency supplies  in the in those schools.

If the social services system is disabled, there will be much suffering and chaos in the streets.

Ground Hog Day has come and gone. Phil didn't see his shadow, so we can expect an early Spring, and a very Hot Summer may not be far behind.

Politicians at the state and local levels should set aside their political power plays , pay less attention to 2008, and focus their attention and efforts toward keeping  New York and New Yorkers safe. Time is of the essence here.

Meanwhile, individuals and households, best take personal responsibility and prepare to survive whatever emergencies, disasters or terror attacks may come our way in the days, weeks and months ahead. It would be a fatal mistake to do nothing because of a misguided assumption that government will save us. We are responsible for saving ourselves and our loved ones.

                                                                                    J P Sullivan