TRENTON, N.J. -- After learning that the City of Newark used federal anti-terrorism money to help pay for 10 new garbage trucks, state lawmakers on Monday called for tighter controls on how homeland security grants are spent.

 

The legislators, all Republicans, called on New Jersey's two Democratic U.S. senators, Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, to "condemn Newark's misuse of homeland security funds" and "ask why the federal government would send more money when the money New Jersey has is wasted."

 

Morris County Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio accused Newark officials of using poor judgment _ "especially since they live quite literally in the shadows of 9/11."

 

"It goes to the heart of credibility," Pennacchio said. "You can't say we're buying garbage trucks on one hand and we're not getting enough homeland security money on the other."

 

Lautenberg spokesman Alex Formuzis said Monday night that the senator would withhold comment until he learned more about how Newark had spent its anti-terrorism funds. Corzine was traveling and available for comment Monday, his office said.

 

Homeland Security said Monday that it is unclear whether the purchase of garbage trucks violated the terms of the city's grant because it's not clear exactly where the money came from. But federal Homeland Security funds could not be used to buy garbage trucks, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Marc Short said.

 

Short said there are no records indicating that Newark used federal Homeland Security grants to buy the trucks.

 

"There's an approved list of equipment that can be bought with Homeland Security funding, and garbage trucks are not on that list," he said. "If it's true, we'll make sure we take measure to ensure that the dollars are returned."

 

Newark put out a press release last month touting its new trucks as the city's "newest tool in keeping the city clean." The trucks, equipped with air conditioning, comfortable seating and power windows, cost $174,804 each "and were paid for from the from the city's capital budget and Homeland Security grants," according to the press release.

 

City spokeswoman Donna Purnell defended the purchases Monday, saying the trucks are equipped with special features that would make them valuable in a disaster.

 

"They're not your typical garbage trucks," she said. "They have special apparatus on them for handling waste and debris. These machines are to be used in the event of a major cleanup."

 

She did not specify how much of the $1.7 million purchase total came from anti-terror funds or what pool of money was used.

 

Short and state Office of Counterterrorism spokesman Roger Shatzkin said safeguards are in place to prevent anti-terror money from being spent inappropriately. They said the funds Newark used for the trucks could have come directly from the Justice Department after 9/11.

 

The governor and state congressional leaders have been lobbying for more federal anti-terrorism funding after the Homeland Security Department announced millions in cuts from New Jersey's allocation.

 

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/new...ion-apnewjersey

Meh, terrorists thrive in thrash, like roaches.

 

Truth be told tax payer money is used in worse ways. Its called PORK.