Career politician David Weprin – a New York State Assemblyman who doesn’t live in the 9^th congressional district he is seeking to represent – is bizarrely claiming credit for Homeland Security dollars allocated to New York by the federal govern by announcing them in a political press release, the campaign of businessman Bob Turner (R) today said.  A news release issued this week by Mr. Weprin’s political campaign, “Announces Homeland Security Grants for New York Area Institutions,” even though Weprin has never served in Congress nor did he have anything to do with this funding.  (The Weprin news release is below.)

“This is a career politician at his most pathetic,” said Turner campaign spokesman William O’Reilly. “In an attempt to reap political points for homeland security dollars he had nothing to do with, David Weprin’s campaign makes an announcement that is supposed to come from the federal government.  This was a blatantly unethical thing to do and Mr. Weprin knows it.”

The Turner campaign said Mr. Weprin needs to answer:

O’Reilly pointed out that the Weprin campaign pulled the release from its campaign website – or never put it up.

“David Weprin is trying to politicize Homeland Security dollars and that’s wrong,” O’Reilly continued.  “He needs to address why he did this.” 

Mr. Turner and Weprin are in a neck-in-neck race to fill the congressional seat recently vacated by disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner (NY-9). The Siena Research Poll released a survey last week showing Mr. Turner trailing by just six points, 42-48, in the heavily Democratic district.   

Mr. Turner has been endorsed for Congress by both Republicans and Democrats, including former New York City Mayor Ed Koch (D) and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R). Mr. Turner’s business career has taken him around the globe. He has conducted business and formed programming partnerships in places ranging from Tbilisi to Delhi, Manila to Moscow.

The special election will be held on Tuesday, September 13.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE WEPRIN RELEASE:

For Immediate Release

August 23, 2011

CONTACT:  Liz Kerr, 202-643-4549

Weprin Announces Homeland Security Grants for New York Area Institutions
Queens, NY – Today, Assemblyman David I. Weprin (D-Queens), candidate for the 9^th Congressional District in NY, announced that 70 high-risk non-profit and religious groups in the New York City area will receive more than $5.1 million in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants.

Seventy institutions in the New York City area will receive a total of more than $5.1 million from the Department of Homeland Security. 

$5.1 Million Delivered to Provide Security to New York Non-Profits

The grants are being made available through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and will provide significant funding for security measures at the very institutions being singled out as potential targets – including hospitals, synagogues, and universities. Since the program began in 2005, over 300 New York City area non-profits have received nearly $28 million in funding.

Within the New York City area, a variety of institutions received funding, including yeshivas, synagogues, churches and hospitals.
Organizations that qualified for the current grant program were eligible to receive up to $75,000 – funds that can be used to train security personnel and install security measures such as surveillance cameras, barriers and controlled entry systems. The average award for grant winners is more than $73,000.

“We all know that New York City is a high-priority for Homeland Security funding. Many institutions in Brooklyn and Queens will now be better equipped to handle security threats”, said Weprin. “We all know terrorist organizations have their eye on New York. These grants will go a long way towards protecting my neighbors in Brooklyn and Queens.”

The Department of Homeland Security does not release the specific list of grant recipients due to security reasons.

(YWN Desk – NYC)