The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will receive more than $12 million in federal grants to protect against land and sea attacks during the coming year, about half the amount received for similar purposes last year, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the grants Monday, which since 2002 have been used locally to purchase harbor patrol boats, install surveillance cameras and fund vehicle screening devices, among other things.
Anemic grant totals for the nation’s largest port complex drew harsh criticism from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who along with local port security officials, had asked for much more.
