New York City’s safety should not be a budget line item

Just a few days ago, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and Sen. Chuck Schumer stood together at a press conference to denounce a proposed $90 million cut to the city’s counterterrorism funds by the federal government.

Sen. Schumer was immediately chastised by the White House for his public position, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why.

The Obama administration’s bean counters clearly have not heard the dire warnings from its FBI director, the secretary of U.S. Homeland Security, and the CIA director that the threats against our country are increasing daily.

Are they intentionally ignoring, or have they forgotten, that New York City has and continues to be the number one terror target in this country, and has sustained more than a dozen thwarted attacks in addition to the two separate attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and 2001? The attacks in San Bernardino and Paris are a tragic reminder of what terrorists are capable of.

These proposed budget cuts could reduce funds designated for active shooter drills and the FDNY’s disaster-response training; cameras, explosive detection dogs, radiological and chemical sensors, and “the entire intelligence analyst program,” according to Bratton.

Rep. Peter King said of the cuts, “this is absolutely indefensible, and could be disastrous,” given that we’re battling the same enemy that is now, “a greater threat than before 9/11.”

Schumer, King, de Blasio and Bratton are absolutely right in denouncing these cuts and demanding the necessary funds to keep New York City’s citizens safe and secure. In fact, every local, state and federal political leader should be jumping on the bandwagon, because you cannot erase history, and history has more than proven that terrorists will be back, so we need to be prepared.

In fact, one could argue that same history is the reason for these cuts.

It’s been 15 years since 9/11, and I chuckle when I see the talking heads in the news speaking about it. Many weren’t there, or they have no personal insight, or read from a list of talking points. Some people were in their teens and others were nowhere near New York City and know nothing other than what they have read, or watched on some documentary.

The budget crunchers never saw what I saw. They never saw the devastation and death that would haunt most men. They’ve never had to deal with the families of those missing, attend the funeral of those lost, or live with the memories and reflections that never diminish.

Congressman King and Sen. Schumer have. They were both there in the days, weeks and months after the attack. They understand the need for that funding perhaps better than anyone else, and it’s their duty and obligation to fight for the people of New York City, and for either to be criticized for doing so is purely political.

History has proven we need that money. For those that don’t understand that, maybe you just had to be there.

Bernard Kerik was the New York City police commissioner under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.