Fairfield County Sees Cut In Homeland Security Funding
BRIDGEPORT, CT (WCBS 880) - A year ago, admitted terrorist Faisal Shahzad was in the city of Bridgeport, mapping out plans to blow up Times Square.
WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau With Mayor Bill Finch
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Now, the federal government has cut Homeland Security funding for Fairfield County - money to complete a sophisticated communication system designed to allow emergency responders to speak with each other on the same frequency.
Mayor Bill Finch points out that $4 million has already been spent and the network is nearly complete.
"To eliminate it, it just doesn't make any sense to anyone around here. Maybe it does in Washington, but not on Main Street," says Finch. "We have seen a terrorist hiding in our city who tried to blow up Times Square. We have seen, just last week, somebody making pipe bombs in his apartment."
The mayor says the project is now on hold for the want of $2 million in federal funds to finish it.
Hartford is also among 31 cities nationwide losing critical federal funding.
