We got this press release earlier today:
MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES $13.5 MILLION FROM RECOVERY ACT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
Investments will save or create an estimated 350 jobs
Philadelphia, June 17 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced details today of $13.5 million in Recovery Act funds for public safety in Philadelphia including $2.5 million for a high-tech Real Time Crime Center at Police Headquarters, $3 million for crime prevention and re-entry services including green jobs training and a Mural Arts program for at-risk youth.
"These investments will not only save lives but save jobs," said Mayor Nutter. "With this Recovery Act funding we are able to provide better equipment and training for our police officers, invest in our priority areas of opportunities for ex-offenders and green job training, and provide job opportunities for hundreds of Philadelphians. This will have a real impact on this city and our citizens."
The programs selected by the City of Philadelphia not only include investment in equipment and training for Philadelphia Police Officers, but programs that will create an estimated 300 jobs and save 52 court employee positions.
The City of Philadelphia has been allocated $13.5 million in funding by formula from the Byrne Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. This program has been in existence for a number of years and has been expanded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by increasing the total amount of funding available and by expanding the tracking and reporting requirements to ensure effective use of the provided funding.
The City has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Justice for spending on the following programs:
Real Time Crime Center at Police Headquarters to provide real time updates to detectives in the field and to develop and analyze crime patterns to ensure effective deployment - $2.5 million.
Less-Than-Lethal Weapons Training to train more officers in the use of collapsible batons and Control Electrical Devices - $1.25 million.
Education and Training for Police Supervisors and Mid-Managers - $620,000.
Clean and Seal (Department of License and Inspections) to clean out and seal vacant or abandoned buildings that poses dangers to the community - $420,000.
Mural Arts Program partnership with Youth Violence Reduction Partnership (YVRP) to create a jobs and skills training program to create and restore murals, providing opportunities for young people most at risk, creating 120 positions over the next three years - $1.37 million.
Green Jobs program for ex-offenders which will create 160 jobs in the first year of a two year partnership with the non-profit Resources for Human Development, Inc. - $1 million.
Community Court positions - $619,526 to fund five positions originally eliminated through budget cuts.
Adult Probation and Parole, Common Pleas Court - $2.58 million for 22 court officers originally eliminated through budget cuts.
Pre-Trial Services, Common Pleas Court - $1.18 million for 11 positions originally eliminated through budget cuts.
Juvenile Branch, Common Pleas Court – $1.64 million for 14 probation officers originally eliminated through budget cuts.
Mayor Nutter made the announcement at a press conference at Police Headquarters with Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison, Judge Pamela Pryor Dembe, and representatives from the Mural Arts Program and Resources for Human Development, Inc.