Homeland Security: Who's really at risk?

[intcvlcphlga 1]

This week the DHS released the list of allocations targeted for specific metropolitan areas. NYC and DC, arguably the #1 and #2 most threatened regions, both saw their allocations cut in the neighborhood of 40% while other much smaller, less threatened areas (Louisville, Jacksonville, Omaha, etc) got huge increases in funding. To add insult to injury, DHS determined that there were no national monuments/icons in New York City even though they deemed Churchill Downs and the J'ville Jaguars to be icons. Apparently, a football stadium for an NFL expansion team looms larger in the public conscience than the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, the United Nations, Rockefeller Center, Yankee Stadium, Verrazano Narrows Bridge, etc.

[PghUSA 0]

This whole thing is $*#@.

Pittsburgh lost about 40% of it's funding and although not as vital as a NYC or LA or SF or DC, the logic behind the cuts (the 4th largest per capita cut in the nation) was a few very very curious stats. One of the most glaring stated that Pittsburgh had NO major financial services centers. Being the home base for the legendary Mellon and PNC fortunes as well as having the largest center for Royal Bank of Scotland/Citizens Bank and the Pennsylvania HQ for the National City bank empire of the mid-west, Pittsburgh is as large a financial center as any city outside of NY or Charlotte (Bank America, Wachovia, Suntrust etc.).

To locals that pass Mellon, PNC, Federated Investors and Highmark Insurance world headquarters everyday then see arguably the largest operations for National City Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland/Citizens in the U.S. to say Omaha and Jacksonville are larger "financial targets" is just a bit puzzling.

Pittsburgh also has one of the largest Federal Reserve branch banks and is the headquarters for the Federal Home Loan Bank for the U.S. Government.

But yes go save Louisville first?!?!