1010 Wins:- NJ Looks to Secure Stimulus Funding for First Responders

3-16-09

 

 

Laid off Clifton firefighters are disappointed to learn that $1-billion in federal grants for first responders likely won't get their jobs back/Steve Sandberg

Posted: Monday, 16 March 2009 2:26PM

NJ Looks to Secure Stimulus Funding for First Responders

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (1010 WINS)  -- New Jersey officials are hoping to get their hands on some earmarked stimulus money to help fund programs supporting public safety --  even more specifically first responders.

Steve Sandberg reports

New Jersey officials including,  U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., announced that the state will be seeking the new federal funding at a news conference today in Montclair.

"We are scraping by, we are several officers short," a Montclair police official tells 1010 WINS.

Today is the first day agencies can apply for stimulus funds earmarked for police and firefighters.

About $1 billion in stimulus funds have been earmarked to hire, retain, and rehire laid-off police officers.

An additional $210 million in funds have been earmarked to maintain current firefighter staffing, which means laid-off firefighters likely will not get their jobs back.

"A bad economy is no excuse to compromise public safety," Pascrell Jr. said.

Inset photo: Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. makes the announcement/Steve Sandberg