Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced its annual funding for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, revealing that New York would receive 40 percent less support than last year. The Urban Area Security Initiative for New York is also down by 25 percent.

These numbers indicate a complete and utter lack of understanding of the threat facing New York state and New York City. After the debacle of the federal response to Katrina, and the mishandling of the Dubai Ports World controversy, the public has lost its confidence in the Department of Homeland Security. The continuing lack of support and lack of crucial dollars is demoralizing and dangerous.

I have traveled around the country and have spoken to various representatives at all levels of government, and from that interaction I've learned that New Yorkers have a unique understanding of how vulnerable we are here and have been willing to put their own time and effort into trying to make themselves safer. Apparently, however, Washington does not and will not grasp this concept.

Under the funding plan, New York would wind up with a cut of more than $100 million. New York is paying for Homeland Security in other states such as California and New Jersey. What is even more frustrating than this shift of funding is that no written justification accompanies it. There was also no warning that this was about to happen. In fact, assurances that a new risk-based funding formula was in place led many of us to believe that funding would increase because New York remains at the top of the list of cities most at risk for a terrorist attack.

When Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's appointment was approved, I was thrilled someone familiar with the New York metropolitan area would be at the helm of this crucial agency. I am, needless to say, incredibly disappointed by the way New York has been treated.