Senator Charles E. Schumer (D - NY) today called on the Obama Administration to abandon its plan to transfer an elite coast guard unit that currently patrols New York Harbor to Boston.
Schumer said that the Administration’s budget, released last week, includes a provision to downsize the Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security teams, including transferring the New York City team to Boston. The New York City team is staffed by 90 coast guard personal and was assigned to patrol the harbor and surrounding waterways after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
“This plan is simply penny wise and pound foolish,” said Schumer. “Since the mission of these teams is to provide security during major events and when there is a specific threat, taking the teams away from New York City would leave us more vulnerable during the most sensitive times. While the Obama Administration is right to seek to consolidate resources where it is warranted, taking the budget ax to New York City when it comes to terror just doesn’t make sense."
The New York City team performs both port security and harbor security missions, providing additional security for major events but also responding to specific treat activity. For example, when there is a reported threat against the Brooklyn Bridge or the Statue of Liberty, the team is charged with providing surveillance and guarding those areas. The team also provides security for other coast guard forces in ports and inland waters
The plan to transfer the New York City team to Boston is part of a national consolidation proposed in the budget with New York was among the five teams being eliminated or transferred. The budget also eliminates teams in California, Louisiana, Alaska, and Georgia.
Schumer today sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking her to abandon the plan to transfer the New York City team and said that if the Administration moves forward with the plan, he will press to block it in Congress. Sources familiar with the situation said that Schumer's office had previously been in communication with both the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security to no avail regarding this matter.
“We are very concerned that it would take too long to deploy a [Coast Guard] team from Boston is cases of extreme threat, disaster or attack,” Schumer added. "I urge them to scrap this plan to ensure New York City’s harbor and waterways stay safe and secure.”
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return examiner.com's call seeking comment.
AP: Schumer: Plan would move elite NY team to Boston
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