Introduction
Security and counterterrorism department is one of the New York City Transit police units tasked with ensuring security by neutralizing any threat associated with terrorist activities in the subways. New York City has over 5.6 million commuters who use the subway, bus, and rail transport (Brakewood et al., 2015). Therefore, the transit bureau is responsible for the safety and security of these commuters, including millions of visitors who come to the city every day. Despite many people working from home due to Covid-19 restrictions, the rate of crime there is still high. New York has witnessed increased robberies, package theft, financial scams, and increased assaults on law enforcement officers and medical workers (Abdelmottlep, 2020). The security and counterterrorism division has prepared its 2021 budget with some increment proposals from the 2020 financial year. As a department mandated to neutralize terror-associated crimes, the unit feels the increments are justified considering its projected expenses.
Justification for Budget Increment
The counterterrorism division plays a critical role in the transport sector of New York City and therefore, needs to be given the necessary resources to perform its duties. Through metropolitan transport authority (MTA), New York City offers the busiest rail transit system in the United States of America. The subways speed through underground tunnels and elevated structures; the NYC transport system keeps New Yorkers moving across 22 communities, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Coupled with five boroughs through which buses ferry people, NYC transit account for 80% of the city’s surface mass transport (Aziz et al., 2018). People with disabilities are also offered transportation through paratransit services. The safety and security of all commuters using NYC transit are left in the bureau’s hands with counterterrorism police unit monitoring any terror threat. Police patrol 25 lines of the subways, 472 stations, and over 250 miles of rail lines (Ceccato & Newton, 2015). This demonstrates the amount of work police have to handle.
The Department of Security and Counterterrorism has continuously done much with minimal budget allocations in previous years, but those constraints would significantly impact this fiscal year. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has hinted at budget cuts across departments, with NYPD facing a $1billion cut following the shortfall in revenue collection due to the effects of Covid-19 (Weichselbaum & Lewis, 2020). Killing of George Floyd at Minneapolis police station and the heavy police presence witnessed during protests have angered citizens. Some people feel that the police service in the country is overfunded. However, the counterterrorism division, which comprises mainly intelligence personnel, does not agree with such proposals and feels the government should allocate more funds to the unit to enable it deliver its role at this critical time.
As the COVID-19 situation worsens, priorities have shifted, yet the threat of terrorism remains. Previous local efforts to counter terror threats in New York City, as detailed in the Intelligence and Counterterrorism reports, have been a concern. Yet, New Yorkers are continuing to expose themselves to terroristic threats while maintaining a minimal security posture. MTA statistics indicate that 2176 cases of harassment of subway workers by riders have been reported since January, resulting in an 11% increase from the previous year (Shvetsov & Shvetsova, 2017). This evidence-based data upholds the claim that the financial burdens New Yorkers are facing will result in irritable riders who are unable to pay their fare. With homelessness rates rising, additional security would be required to supplement the police’s role and ensure riders and transit workers are safe.
New York City is the epicenter of Covid-19, with a third of U.S. infections reported in the city. The virus has taken a staggering toll on the MTA, and the transit agency has not been spared either. Several agents have tested positive for Covid-19 leaving the agency with a depleted workforce and the responsibility of preventing the spread of infections (Glaeser et al., 2020). Sacrifices are being made to ensure the safety and security of commuters are maintained, but too many limitations through budget cuts may subject the agency to a crisis that it may not overcome. Despite the restriction measures, United States will still experience security issues, and counterterrorism division as transit bureau projects some threats in the future that would require it to dedicate many of its resources and personnel to counteract them. The projection is based on the report highlighting increasing cases of terrorism from 2013 to 2019 as shown in Figure 1 below. Health workers spend all their time to ensure the safety of all and others work towards restoring the economy, the government must prepare itself to deal with national security contingencies.
The existing security threats in the division and subways would worsen as local and federal governments tend to take extreme measures to respond to the virus. The unit is projecting an increase in terror threats because some refugees may try to enter the country illegally. Situations where refugees are fleeing their countries to seek asylum in other nations has been witnessed. Such scenarios have already been witnessed in Europe, with several people seeking asylum from some countries (Lopez-Pena et al., 2020). Indeed, controlling coronavirus situations in the city would create new challenges for the bureau. Social distancing restrictions would require many agents to work from home and try to telework. This phenomenon would require the department to allocate some of its resources in securing technological infrastructure to its agents to enable them to work from home.
The world is grappling with the effects of covid-19 and workplaces are some of the areas which have been adversely affected. As per the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations, people should observe social distancing of at least two meters apart at workplaces (Nicastri et al., 2020). Adhering to WHO’s regulations at workplaces means the counterterrorism department would have to allocate additional resources to ensure workers’ safety. The unit would have to conduct risk assessments, educate its workers on covid-19, provide for cleaning and handwashing materials, and ensure vulnerable workers’ safety. Equipment and other items such as cell phones, internet, and computer usage expenses would be incurred as a result of “working from home” measures. Elimination or “work from home” measure is the most effective control according to WHO and is demonstrated in the chart below (see Fig. 2). The department wishes to implement this measure and a lot of money would be spent.
Due to infections witnessed among the counterterrorism department workers, the management projects absenteeism, especially those who would fall sick and may need to quarantine or isolate themselves. Such occurrences would lead to shortages of personnel, and therefore, the unit has allocated some of its budgets to recruit new agents to cover for the estimated number of workers who would not be able to report to work. The division has budgeted for extra office furniture to ensure social distancing is maintained at workplaces. Costs on installing high-efficiency air filters, physical barriers such as clear plastic sneeze guards, a drive-through window for customer service, and increment of ventilations rates would be incurred, prompting the need to increase budget allocation to the unit.
Communication is vital in any given working environment, and since the unit is tasked with the elimination of terror threats, its agents must keep continuous communication to make their policing roles effective. Videoconferencing facilities such as monitors need to be installed to enhance effective communication and reporting of any unusual behavior (Shaw et al., 2020). Agents will have to report to their supervisors via phone or video calls, and this would require an increment in airtime expenses. Establishing internet-based communication plans where workers can present their concerns are projected to cost the division some money. More resources would be allocated in ensuring high levels of hygiene are maintained at workplaces. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers and rubs, hand soap, no-touch trash cans, disinfectants, and disposable towels for cleaning hands would be purchased. The division would also have to incur the costs of installing signs to guide workers in the facilities.
Previous Years’ Growth
The division has made numerous gains in the recent past despite the limited recourses at its disposal. Since the events of September 11, 2001, the division has effectively prevented any terrorist activity in the subways by gathering intelligence and acting swiftly on any suspected threat. The unit has trained some of the best agents and equipped them with the necessary technological resources to patrol, collect data and analyze, and share their findings with partner agencies such as the FBI and NYPD joint terrorism task force. New York City has over 8 million people and receives 58 million visitors annually (Quinlan, 2019). The underground tunnels and boroughs are crowded all the time, and some terror gangs have attempted to exploit this to target vulnerable passengers. Instances of bomb plantings have been witnessed in the past, and the unit has always acted swiftly to defuse and neutralize such threats.
The critical Response Command (CRC) team has responded well against international and domestic terrorist and active-shooter attacks in the city. As part of the NYPD counterterrorism department, the division engages first responders with innovative and forward-thinking techniques trained in special weapons, long-range guns, detection of explosives, radiology and nuclear, biology, and chemical weapons (Fisher, 2016). The unit’s heavy police presence and surveillance operations have proved effective in sensing danger and its neutralization. The bomb squad has received adequate training on use of resources such as Total Containment Vessels (TCV) to defuse, transport, and dispose of any suspected packages found lying in the subways. This has been possible due to the excellent working relationship the division has developed with MTA workers and the community.
Previous Year Issues, Constraints, and Impact on the Office
However, due to budget limitations the unit experienced in the last financial year, some programs and critical resources could be availed to the teams as required. Several constraints were witnessed, especially in acquiring technological infrastructure for surveillance operations. CRC teams fell short of some resources; for instance, the division could not receive adequate Tactical Radiological Acquisition Characterization System (TRACS) for the Maritime team to monitor any radiation in the New York ports (Robinson, 2020). The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Section did not get enough funding to purchase kits for testing emerging technologies. The division’s target of training and new entries could not be met last year with limited budget allocated.
The bomb squad section was not provided with enough specialized tools like TCV, which is crucial in dismantling, transporting, and disposing of explosive devices. Out of 24 agents, only 11 have TCV, which has exposed them to many risks (Robinson, 2020). A robot used to monitor, control, and transport devices has not been useful due to lack of regular maintenance. The Domain Awareness System (DAS) that aids in aggregating data from CCTV cameras, plate readers, sensors, 911 call-database became faulty in July. This was due to a rise in the number of calls received from individuals and families affected by Covid-19. DAS system could not be repaired due to limited resources, and therefore, the division wishes to allocate resources towards the maintenance of this device.
Projected Impacts If Financial Interests Are Not Met
Therefore, failure to allocate enough resources to the counterterrorism division this year, as highlighted in the proposed FY 2021 budget would subject it into financial crisis. Any budget cuts as proposed by some politicians and protestors would be untenable and could expose MTA and New Yorkers to eminent terrorist threats. The department would not be able to buy enough TCVs for the agents, and this would further endanger their lives. CBRNE Section requires urgent funding to purchase testing kits for emerging technologies. Advancement in technology has resulted in sophisticated devices and explosives which can cause a lot damage on property and to humans (Cullen, 2017). Counterterrorism unit needs to keep up with such innovations in order to avoid catastrophes in the future. Failing to test any suspected innovation is a risk that police service cannot afford.
Additionally, some of the transit’s CCTV cameras, license plate readers, and 911 devices are faulty and have not been repaired. Therefore, if division’s financial interests are not met the city would be vulnerable and terror gangs using subways may not be spotted. The city is still leading in the number of Covid-19 infections. The 911 toll-free lines are crucial in ensuring all emergency cases are responded to promptly (Minchev & Gaydarski, 2020). Repairing some of these lines is fundamental in ensuring safety and wellbeing of everyone. New York ports attracts many visitors especially during festive season. Insufficient funds mean the TRACS would not be maintained properly to help Maritime team to monitor any radiation in the water bodies hence posing threats to visitors and locals.
Adhering to Covid-19 health protocols is critical in ensuring safety of workers and controlling spread of the virus. Inadequate funds would mean that the division cannot implement health protocols at workplaces. Purchase of extra office furniture to cater for 2 meters’ distance between employees would not be attained. Installing high-efficiency air filters, physical barriers such as clear plastic sneeze guards, drive through windows for customer service, and increment of ventilation rates would not be realized. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers and rubs, hand soap, no-touch trash cans, disinfectants and disposable towels for cleaning hands would not be purchased. Videoconferencing facilities used to hold virtual meetings among employees, especially those with underlying conditions and are working from home, would not be acquired as planned. The division has an estimation of 30,000 dollars per month for internet connectivity required for video calls and other office works (Carter, 2020). The inadequate budget allocation would make it difficult to realize such plans.
Policy Impact and Its Relations to Budget Constraints, Stakeholder Impact, and Program Impact
Budgetary allocation depends on policies and impacts various sectors that rely on government programs. During economic crisis, policies are enacted with some critical programs being guaranteed which define budget allocations while discretionary ones receive negotiated divisions (Flink, 2017). This phenomenon of budgetary constraints has affected some programs adversely. Social services such as infrastructure, HealthCare, security, and education are subject to annual budget processes. As such, they can face budget cuts when budgetary constraints are experienced as a result of hard economic times. Policy, budget, and programs are affected by what is known as government XYZs (Ritonga, 2015). They include revenue sources, mandatory obligations, discretionary obligations, and budgetary constraints.
The primary source of government revenue is the tax, which can be income and payroll taxes. During an economic crisis such as the one brought about by Covid-19, revenue collection may be undermined as businesses do not generate enough income. Consequently, the government would reduce its spending rather than raise taxes to make up for the shortfalls. Discretionary obligations or programs would suffer budget cuts to balance the equation. Government XYZ’s mandatory programs, which are also referred to as entitlement spending, include health, retirement benefits, and food (Kasdin, 2017). Whereas discretionary programs include military, education, and farming and are subject to debate through legislation and are funded based on available revenue.
Budgetary constraints majorly affect discretionary programs and stakeholders involved in the sector. For instance, if policymakers decide to subject budget cuts on police service, the government XYZ’s finances would be impacted positively since money will no longer be spent on the program. However, stakeholders in the sector, such as supplies of TVCs, military armaments, and other items, would suffer financial loss. Workers and any other individuals involved financially would be impacted; as such, the decision to eliminate a budgetary item or a portion of it can result in a negative outcome down the chain (Sarial-Abi et al., 2016). On the other hand, whenever budgetary windfalls occur, more money would be allocated to discretionary programs like security, food, and infrastructure. Stakeholders involved in the sectors would be able to conduct more businesses leading to better incomes. Salaries and benefits to the workers can be increased, and they can be able to save.
Solutions for Operating an Office Effectively with Budget Limitations
Therefore, public sectors need to make informed decisions on how to approach budgetary constraints scenarios whenever they occur. The government will always have a finite level of income to spend on infinite programs. Stakeholders involved in discretionary programs should be prepared at all times to operate with budget cuts. They should avoid implementing pet projects which are not critical (Divounguy et al., n.d.). Employees’ welfare should be given priority because they are the main resources, and therefore, their salaries and benefits should be settled. Engaging in activities such as vacations can be avoided when an organization is faced with budget cuts. Wastages in terms of corruption should be avoided so as to ensure all money spent can be accounted for.
Conclusion
The budgetary increment proposal by the security and counterterrorism department is justified because the unit has to purchase new office furniture, technological resources, and other substances to maintain high hygiene at workplaces. Effects of Covid-19 have subjected low-income earners into financial crisis. Some of them have resorted to criminal activities and may join terror gangs. Such would be risky to the safety and wellbeing of New Yorkers. The division has made some milestones in ensuring any terror threats is neutralized. Conversely, if its financial interests are not met in this fiscal year, the department would fall into a financial crisis. Implementing Covid-19 health protocols at workplaces would be a considerable challenge and availing necessary equipment to the teams. However, budgetary constraints are expected during an economic crisis, and organizations should be prepared to take budgets and prioritize critical areas.
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