Yonkers schedules acceptance of two $50,000 Homeland Security grants for critical infrastructure and cybersecurity

The Yonkers City Council Rules Committee on Sept. 9 scheduled two special ordinances to accept grants from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Each grant is for $50,000: one for the 2022 critical infrastructure program and one for the 2022 cybersecurity grant program. The committee did not vote on final acceptance at the Rules Committee meeting; staff indicated both items will be on the Sept. 16 full council agenda.

Why it matters: State grants for critical infrastructure and cybersecurity fund equipment, training or upgrades that a city may use to protect facilities, networks or services. Acceptance requires a municipal ordinance so the funds can be expended.

At the Sept. 9 meeting a staff member described the two items as special ordinances authorizing acceptance of the grants; the presiding officer confirmed both items will be placed on the next council agenda. No substantive debate about project scope or matching requirements was recorded at the Rules Committee meeting; the staff presentation and committee action were procedural referrals to the full council.