Council approves UASI homeland-security grant application amid community concern about surveillance and targeting
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Summary
Council authorized applying for and accepting Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding, including projects for threat liaison officers, CERT and vehicle-ramming protections; some council members and public speakers raised concerns about potential targeting of Black and Brown advocacy groups and federal misuse of funds.
The Phoenix City Council voted to authorize the city to apply for and accept Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding on Sept. 17, 2025, a grant program that supports regional preparedness and homeland-security capabilities. The vote passed 8-1.
Council discussion centered on the scope of funded programs and civil liberties concerns. Public speakers and Councilwoman Hernandez asked whether threat/terrorism liaison activities had historically over-targeted Black-led advocacy groups and whether federal funding could be used to suppress protected speech. A community witness cited an internal police record count she said showed disparate documentation of Black Lives Matter-related records compared with right-wing groups.
What the city described: City staff explained UASI supports a suite of preparedness functions — police and fire threat liaison activities, a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), mass-care and medical response capabilities, cybersecurity efforts, rapid response task forces and protective equipment such as vehicle anti-ramming barriers for public events. Staff clarified the agency name change from “terrorism liaison officer” to “threat liaison officer” to reflect a broader mission.
Community concerns: Speakers, including representatives of community organizations, urged the council to decline UASI funds because of documented federal targeting of progressive groups elsewhere and concerns that threat-liaison tools have been misapplied. They cited historical reviews and asked for assurances that funds would not subsidize politically motivated surveillance.
Council action and vote: Council authorized application for UASI funding by an 8-1 vote, with Councilwoman Hernandez recorded as the lone no vote; staff will coordinate projects with regional partners and with the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, the state pass-through agency for UASI funds.
Next steps: The city will submit project proposals through the regional UASI governance structure, specifying sustainment or enhancement projects for participating agencies. Staff said projects will include event-protection equipment, training, and CERT support; police and fire representatives said threat-liaison work focuses on credible threats that can affect public safety and critical infrastructure.
Caveat: Several council members asked staff to provide additional details about civil-rights safeguards and community oversight as the grant proposals are finalized.
