Feds Stimulate Crime-Ridden and Poor Cities

Posted by: Nate Berg

3 August 2009 - 7:00am

Crime numbers and struggling city budgets have caused the Justice department to issue $1 billion in federal stimulus funds to 1,046 communities to beef up their police forces.

Philadelphia is one of the top beneficiaries. Some other major U.S. cities did not receive any assistance on this front.

"New York, Houston, Seattle, and Pittsburgh were shut out.

But it really was nothing for Philadelphia to brag about.

The city's 169 homicides this year, as of yesterday, and its projected $1.5 billion budget deficit over the next five years undoubtedly were among top reasons for its allotment of funds, which Holder said were based largely on crime and fiscal conditions."

Full Story: Phila. crime, budget lead to a big stimulus boost

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 2009