Governor McAuliffe Announces Homeland Security Grant Awards

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Official Seal Websafe Colors (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dozens of projects across Virginia will receive federal funding

Richmond, Va. – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that more than $4.8 million in federal funds will be awarded to multiple local government agencies to enhance emergency preparedness throughout Virginia. The funds, administered by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, are from the fiscal year 2014 State Homeland Security Grant program.

“These critical funds, provided by our partners at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be used immediately to help emergency planners and first responder agencies throughout Virginia get tools, equipment and other resources they need to keep Virginia communities safe,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “With this grant, Virginia joins federal and local governments in working together proactively to ensure that our residents are better protected and able to recover more quickly from possible terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.”

To allot the funds, the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security invited project proposals from local government agencies to be submitted in ten categories of special emphasis and priority for Virginia. A total of 187 project proposals valued at more than $23 million were received in these categories:

·       Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE)

·       Communications

·       Community Preparedness

·       Critical Infrastructure

·       Training and exercises in Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS)

·       Information Sharing (Fusion Centers)

·       Law Enforcement

·       Mass Care

·       Planning

·       Public Messaging & Crisis Communication

The submitted projects were evaluated and scored against five criteria by approximately 50 peer reviewers.  These individuals from across the state represented multiple professional groups, state agencies and local government officials with emergency expertise.  Peer reviewers evaluated projects that were outside of their own region.  Among the scoring criteria were the necessity of the project, how the project addresses risk, project management and the sustainment of the investment.

A total of 79 projects valued at $4.8 million met the criteria and will receive funding as shown below:

Locality	Proposal Title	Allocation Amount
Albemarle County	Law Enforcement Equipment	$                  6,745.00
Albemarle County	Law Enforcement Personal Protective Equipment	$                42,910.00
Alexandria City	Hazmat Team Equipment	$                79,600.00
Arlington County	Whole Community Outreach and Citizen Corps Program	$                36,100.00
Augusta County	HazMat Equipment and Training	$                54,393.00
Buckingham County	HazMat Response Vehicle	$                38,000.00
Buckingham County	Law Enforcement Equipment	$              151,171.00
Chesapeake City	HazMat Paramedic Training Program Sustainment	$                17,500.00
Chesapeake City	Hampton Roads Incident Management Team (HRIMT)	$                99,000.00
Chesapeake City	Mobile Emergency Water Supply System	$              100,000.00
Chesapeake City	Virginia Communications Cache Sustainment	$              139,900.00
Chesterfield County	Rail Hazard and Flammable Liquid Response Equipment	$              100,000.00
Chesterfield County	Virginia Search and Technical Rescue/USAR Communications and Interoperability Project	$                98,000.00
Chesterfield County	Virginia Search and Technical Rescue Program Support	$              147,000.00
Craig County	EOC Upgrade	$                40,000.00
Danville City	HazMat Equipment	$                30,187.00
Fairfax County	Structural Collapse Team Equipment	$                68,000.00
Fairfax County	Virginia Communications Cache	$              176,000.00
Fairfax County	Hazardous Materials Response Team Equipment	$              150,000.00
Floyd County	Citizen Alerting System	$                32,200.00
Galax City	CERT Equipment and Training	$                  6,500.00
Gloucester County	Community Preparedness- Evacuation Preparedness Targeting Multi-Cultural	$                45,000.00
Gloucester County	Community Preparedness- Regional Shelter Planning, Training and Exercises	$              100,000.00
Greene County	CERT Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                  9,000.00
Halifax County	CERT Equipment and Training	$                  6,682.00
Hampton City	Citizen Corps Program	$                35,000.00
Hampton City	Disaster Outreach Targeting Tourist Population	$                27,000.00
Hampton City	Regional Shelter Planning, Training, Exercise and Equipment	$                53,952.00
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission	Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Strike Team Personal Protective Equipment Replacement	$              133,219.92
Hanover County	Personnel Protective Gear Replacement/Upgrade	$                18,100.00
Hanover County	Thermal Imaging Device Replacement/Upgrade	$                30,000.00
Harrisonburg City	HazMat Team Equipment and Training	$                52,000.00
Henrico County	Hazmat Team Equipment	$                18,000.00
Henrico County	Community Outreach, Mass Care, and Preparedness Efforts	$                26,500.00
Henrico County	Regional Swiftwater and Flood Waters Training	$                30,000.00
Hopewell City	Hazmat Team Equipment	$                27,000.00
Hopewell City	Shelter Supplies and Equipment	$                97,000.00
James City County	Citizen Preparedness	$                11,370.00
James City County	Emergency Planning	$                59,900.00
Lancaster County	Citizen Corps Program	$                40,500.00
Lancaster County	Law Enforcement- Data Sharing Project (LInX)	$              102,640.00
Lynchburg City	CBRNE Equipment	$                52,542.00
Manassas City	Citizen Corps Program	$                17,500.00
Middle Peninsula Planning District	Program Management- Regional Emergency Planning	$              110,000.00
Middlesex County, VA	CERT Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                  7,230.00
New Kent County	Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)	$                12,500.00
New Kent County	Evacuation Incident Mini Emergency Response Vehicles (MERV)	$                40,000.00
Newport News City	Law Enforcement- Mass Casualty Incident Training and Exercise	$                  7,555.00
Newport News City	Citizen Preparedness	$                32,228.49
Newport News City	Mass Care Shelter Equipment and Training	$                42,789.50
Newport News City	Hazmat Team Equipment	$                60,600.00
Norfolk City	CERT Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                40,420.00
Norfolk City	Hazmat Team Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                35,000.00
Northampton County	Interoperable Communications Enhancement	$              105,000.00
Page County	CERT Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                  5,750.00
Petersburg City	Citizen Corps Program	$                  7,420.00
Poquoson City	CERT Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                30,000.00
Portsmouth City	Law Enforcement- Surveillance System Expansion	$                18,850.00
Portsmouth City	Hazmat Team Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                27,555.00
Richmond City	Citizen Corps Program	$                22,000.00
Richmond City	Citizen and Business Preparedness Training	$                60,000.00
Richmond Regional Planning District Commission	Regional Emergency Management Planning Support	$              102,800.00
Roanoke City	HTR/SWR Equipment	$                84,635.00
Roanoke City	Law Enforcement – Tactical Response Team Personal Protective Equipment	$                72,000.00
Rockingham County	Hazmat Team Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                39,660.00
Salem City	Hazmat Team Equipment, Training, and Exercises	$                62,000.00
Tazewell County	CERT Equipment and Training	$                96,400.00
Virginia Beach City	Heavy Tactical Rescue Team Equipment and Training	$                65,547.00
Virginia Beach City	Hazmat Team Equipment – Railway Incident Response	$              100,000.00
Westmoreland County	Law Enforcement – License Plate Reader Integration	$                 35,050.00
Williamsburg City	CERT Equipment, Training and Exercises	$                 39,539.00
Winchester City	Hazmat Team Equipment, Training and Exercises	$                55,500.00
Wise County	Citizen Alerting System	$                14,957.00
York County	Citizen Preparedness	$                 39,620.00
Fusion Center – VSP on behalf of Local Governments in Region II	Fusion Center Analysts	$             137,415.00
Fusion Center – VSP on behalf of Local Governments in Region III	Fusion Center Analysts	$             142,595.00
Fusion Center – VSP on behalf of Local Governments in Region VI	Fusion Center Analysts	$              150,000.00
Fusion Center – VSP on behalf of Local Governments in Region IV	Fusion Center Analysts	$              150,000.00
Fusion Center – VSP on behalf of Local Governments in Region I	Fusion Center Analysts	$               150,000.00

Related articles

• GMSA and GMSPT Have Created GRLF Revolving Loan Fund, Watch Your Investment Disappear?
• Canadian Banking Fraud? See What This 12 Year Old Girl Knows.
• Governor McAuliffe Announces Stone Brewing Co. to Establish Operation in the City of Richmond
• Governor McAuliffe Awards Extended School Year Planning and Start-Up Grants to 13 School Divisions
• Governor McAuliffe Statement on Supreme Court's Gay Marriage Decision
• Tens of Millions Now Employed In US At Sweatshops

McAuliffe Administration to Local Divisions of Social Services: Same-Sex Spouses can now Legally Adopt

World map highlighting those countries where polygamy is legal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Is This A Violation Of The State Constitution?

Today, at the direction of Governor Terry McAuliffe, the Virginia Department of Social Services released a bulletin informing local social services divisions that adoption between same-sex spouses is now legal across the Commonwealth.

“Now that same-sex marriage in Virginia is officially legal, we owe it to all Virginians to ensure that every couple is treated equally under all of our laws, no matter whom they love,” said Governor McAuliffe. “This historic decision opened the door to marriage equality, and now it is my sincerest hope that it will also open more doors for Virginia children who need loving families.

“By formally recognizing that same-sex couples can now legally adopt, we are more fully complying with the ruling in this important case, and sending the message once again that Virginia is open and welcoming to everyone.”

Virginia law states that a “married couple or an unmarried individualshall be eligible to receive placement of a child for purposes of adoption.”

Below is the bulletin that was sent to local divisions of social services today:

DATE:   October 10, 2014

TO:   Local Departments of Social Services Directors

Adoption Supervisors and Staff

Foster Care Supervisors and Staff

Resource Specialists

FROM: Margaret Ross Schultze, Commissioner

SUBJECT: Impact of Same-Sex Court Ruling on Adoption and Foster Care

CONTACT: Carl E. Ayers, Director of Family Services –carl.e.ayers@dss.virginia.gov or

804-726-7597

On October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal related to Virginia’s statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriage.  As a result of that decision, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision determining those bans to be unconstitutional became effective.  In other words, Virginia now recognizes and allows same-sex marriage.

We take this opportunity to let you know how the court decision impacts the approval of foster and adoptive homes.  When determining the appropriateness of a foster or adoptive home, Virginia, in response to the Fourth Circuit ruling, now recognizes any legally-performed marriage (same-sex or opposite-sex), whether performed in Virginia or another state.  This ruling does not confer legal status to civil unions or domestic partnerships.  Any married couple is a married couple for purposes of adoptive placements in accordance with Virginia Code § 63.2-1225.

We are in the process of reviewing all applicable statutes and regulations to determine what amendments need to be made.  Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.

Cc:        Regional Directors

(What is civil rights and what is morality? These are now questions that must be asked as well as what is law and what is now legal and illegal. Every aspect of American Society has now been full,y violated and full anarchism is now at reign. We will soon be exploring these issues.)

Related articles

• South Park:The Rainbow
• Canadian Banking Fraud? See What This 12 Year Old Girl Knows.
• Governor McAuliffe Announces Stone Brewing Co. to Establish Operation in the City of Richmond
• Governor McAuliffe Awards Extended School Year Planning and Start-Up Grants to 13 School Divisions
• GMSA and GMSPT Have Created GRLF Revolving Loan Fund, Watch Your Investment Disappear?
• Governor McAuliffe Statement on U.S. District Court's Redistricting Ruling

GMSA and GMSPT Have Created GRLF Revolving Loan Fund, Watch Your Investment Disappear?

The folks who run the Gloucester Main Street Association and the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust have developed a new way to get at potential business investors money.  It's called the GLFR, or Gloucester Revolving Loan Fund.  All hail BAAL for that.  These folks want you to invest in the dead area of Gloucester Main street.  A place with minimal parking at best, where the sidewalks barely meet residential standards, never mind commercial standards and there are areas considered potentially dangerous to pedestrians as the slopes on the sidewalks do not meet specs based on our research.  

  This is an area that has a lot of new business turnover as most people can not make a go of it here.  One must ask why.  Simple, no parking and no chance of ever attracting an anchor business.  An anchor business is pretty much a large retailer that has the capability of attracting large amounts of traffic into it's store and all the other stores in the area will hopefully benefit from the extra traffic in the area by offering complimentary goods and or services not carried by the anchor store.

  Not to take anything away from the well established businesses on Main Street, there are some wonderful shops there if you do not mind the lack of parking and poor pedestrian walkways throughout the area.  But look at what has been built in the area over the past decade and you will see that the only thing that might prove viable is senior service providers and if the population does go up with seniors, then maybe one candy store can make it in this environment.  I would not bank on anything else.  

  What also tickles our funny bone about the statements coming out of the Main Street Preservation Trust is their commitment to preserving main street.  Take a look at the present structures around the area and explain to us where preservation exists.  Look at the rents for the area and they are way to high for such poor traffic.  Most of the businesses that went out of business all complained of no customers or not enough customers to support the business.  

  So you want to go broke trying to make money on Main Street?  There are much better options and at better prices in other areas of the county where you are more likely to get traffic into your business.  If you listen to the hype these folks want to sell you, it all sounds rosy.  Your best bet is to walk the entire Main street area for one day and talk to present business owners and actually pay attention to everything you see.  You may save yourself a fortune and much heart ache.  Just be careful around these folks who want to give you such nice loans, they can sell ice to an Eskimo and water to fish.  And they can make everything very easy and handle all the paper work for you.  Just don't miss any payments even after you have gone belly up and have nothing left.  Isn't that just great news?

http://www.mainstreetlive.net/gloucester-revolving-loan-fund/

Link to all the wonderful news.  All hail BAAL!  And you even get to bow before the great BAAL when entering their office at their wonderful BAAL shopping center on Main Street.  Where our public library is as well.  That's just so special how they thought of all these wonderful ideas ahead of time.  Just remember, anyone after your money is going to be very helpful and offer more than you ever expected, that is until all your money is gone.  Then you get to see they are not sheep.  And you thought they were as gentle as lambs?

Canadian Banking Fraud? See What This 12 Year Old Girl Knows.

Amazing video.  This 12 year old girl knows more about world banking and finances than most people will ever understand because most people do NOT want to know what is really happening.  She talks about the Canadian banking system, however, it applies to just about all banking systems throughout the world.  Think the US is any different?  No way.  There are some interesting arguments on the comments of the video.  It's amazing how many people have no clue and will argue to no end on issues they simply do not understand.

  One area where agreement is made, this 12 year old seems rather well trained.  Does she actually understand what she is saying?  It's a tough question.  Is paper money actually a debt?  Well if you read the wording on paper money, then you will quickly realize that it is in fact a debt and not a currency.  Coinage is a currency.  Paper money is a debt.

Federal Reserve Notes are the only type of U.S. banknote currently produced.[1] Federal Reserve Notes are authorized by Section 16 of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913(codified at 12 U.S.C. § 411) and are issued to the Federal Reserve Banks at the discretion of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.[2] The notes are then put into circulation by the Federal Reserve Banks,[3] at which point they become liabilities of the Federal Reserve Banks[4] and obligations of the United States.[2]

Federal Reserve Notes are legal tender, with the words "this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private" printed on each note. (See generally 31 U.S.C. § 5103.) They have replaced United States Notes, which were once issued by the Treasury Department. Federal Reserve Notes are backed by the assets of theFederal Reserve Banks, which serve as collateral under Federal Reserve Act Section 16. These assets are generally Treasury securities which have been purchased by the Federal Reserve through its Federal Open Market Committee in a process called debt monetizing. (See Monetization.) This monetized debt can increase the money supply, either with the issuance of new Federal Reserve Notes or with the creation of debt money (deposits). This increase in the monetary base leads to larger increase in the money supply through the fractional-reserve banking as deposits are lent and re-deposited where they form the basis of further loans. (Wait, I thought that paper money was backed by the good faith and credit of the people of the United States?)

(Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_Note )

Now that you understand what paper money is, wait, are you sure you understand what paper money is?  Do you really understand what the above is saying to you?  You can go through all the links above and try to educate yourself to the best of your ability, but chances are very high that you will be more confused than you already are.  That's okay, it's designed to be confusing.  We highlighted a key area for you to really ponder upon however.  It's the Debt Monetizing.  Wait, wouldn't that make paper money a debt obligation and not a currency?  Play this game any way you want and you can control the economics of the country that this system is set up in.  You can create economic downturns or economic booms.  It matters not.  It only matters what those in control want to do.  Sorry, you get no vote in this.

Lincoln memorial cent, with the S mintmark of the San Francisco mint. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let's hear it for the penny.  Actual US currency.  Maybe it's time to reconsider matters?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency  Some interesting further reading.  You might learn something new.