Here little piggy…
The DC-watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste is out with its annual pink “Pig Book,” its attempt to identify pork in the 2007 federal budget.
The group’s extensive list cites 19 projects specific to New York, and one specific to the Lower Hudson Valley: $9 million secured by Congresswoman Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, to help with the continuing cleanup of Davids Island, the former Army post in New Rochelle. The money was included in the 2007 defense budget, and hailed by local officials as yet another step closer to turning the property into a county park.
The Pig Book praises 2007 as having the least amount of pork in eight years. “There are no indoor rainforests, National Peanut festivals, mariachi music grants or teapot musems to be found,” the authors say in the introduction.
Still, they found billions of dollars of projects that meet at least two of the group’s seven criteria. They are: requested by only one chamber of Congress; not specifically authorized; not competitively awarded; not requested by the President; greatly exceeding the President’s budget request or the previous year’s budget; not the subject of a Congressional hearing; or serves only a local or special interest.
We have a call in to Lowey seeking comment.
UPDATE: Spokesman Josh Zembik emailed this statement on Lowey’s behalf: “Davids Island contributed greatly to our area for many years as an Army post but has been unused since the base’s closing in the 1960’s and is now littered with refuse and dilapidated buildings from its time as a military site. Congresswoman Lowey is pleased to have secured funds available to communities that have been impacted by Defense program changes to help restore the island. The funds secured by Congresswoman Lowey will help clean up Davids Island so that it is safe and accessible to the community, ensuring that we once again reap the benefits of this unique jewel in the Long Island Sound.”
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The funding that Congresswoman Lowey has secured to clean up Davids Island should not be derided as mere pork. The benefits that a Davids Island Park will give to Long Island Sound go beyond the borders of her Congressional District. In the face of inadequate funding for Long Island Sound cleanup, Congresswoman Lowey was right to use her influence to fund this important project. Congress should fully fund Long Island Sound cleanup programs to better address pollution problems in the Sound.
Unfortunately, the significant cleanup of Davids Island by the Army Corps of Engineers is just the beginning. Westchester County needs to purchase Davids Island from New Rochelle and begin the process of creating the park.