Prospects for NSGP 2012

Will there be a Nonprofit Security Grant Program in 2012?
On December 23rd, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Bill for FY2012, including funding for Homeland Security. The bill contained contained changes to the 12 current Homeland Security State and Local Grant Programs.

For the first time, Congress included the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), as a stand alone program, one of the 12 that is no longer attached to the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). UASI is a program with geographic limitations that may no longer apply to NSGP in FY2012.

1. The changes give the Secretary of Homeland Security new discretionary authority to determine both the allocations to be dispersed among the 12 grant programs (virtually all of the state and local funding distributed by DHS), and, for NSGP, the geographic areas for inclusion (Last year NSGP applicants were required to be located in a Tier 1 UASI. Congress gave the Secretary discretion to define the areas or to require no area at all). 
2. Total funding for the 12 grant programs was provided this year as a single allocation, at a significantly reduced amount (a cut near $860 million or 43%). The Secretary will determine how the allocation will be split among the grant programs.

By law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the grant programs, must publish its grant guidance for these programs on or about February 23rd. The reforms of the DHS grant programs raise questions about the future direction  of the NSGP. In advance of this guidance, the Washington Office of JFNA will be meeting with senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security to advocate for a strong NSGP program. All of us owe the Washington Office of JFNA our deepest gratitude.

JCRC-NY guidance
Once the guidelines are published at the end of February, JCRC-NY will update our guidance materials based on the new grant materials and schedule tranings. For further information contact David Pollock at pollockd@jcrcny.org. You may obtain guidance from the JCRC at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants and the Jewish Federations of North America at: www.jewishfederations.org/homelandsecurity.

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White supremacist may pose a threat

UPDATE: December 29. Danny Warner was arrested by local police in Lake Havasu, Arizona without incident. He is being charged with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, and there are additional charges expected.

A known White supremacist might pose a security threat to Jews or Jewish institutions, probably in the South. He is considered armed and dangerous.

While the available information indicates that he intends to head to the South, it is worthwhile to review your security procedures, especially those dealing with access control and hostile surveillance. See the JCRC resources available at www.jcrcny.org/securityresources.

The ADL bulletin below has some excellent suggestions in their alert.

Traveling with Personal Internet-Enabled Devices

National Cyber Alert System

Cyber Security Tip ST11-001

Holiday Traveling with Personal Internet-Enabled Devices The internet is at our fingertips with the widespread use of internet-enabled devices such as smart phones and tablets. When traveling and shopping anytime, and especially during the holidays, consider the wireless network you are using when you complete transactions on your internet-enabled device. Know the risks Your smart phone, tablet, or other internet-enabled device is a full-fledged computer. It is susceptible to risks inherent in online transactions. When shopping, banking, or sharing personal information online, take the same precautions with your smart phone or other internet-enabled device that you do with your personal computer — and then some. The mobile nature of these devices means that you should also take precautions for the physical security of your device (see Protecting Portable Devices: Physical Security for more information) and consider the way you are accessing the internet. Do not use public Wi-Fi networks Avoid using open Wi-Fi networks to conduct personal business, bank, or shop online. Open Wi-Fi networks at places such as airports, coffee shops, and other public locations present an opportunity for attackers to intercept sensitive information that you would provide to complete an online transaction. If you simply must check your bank balance or make an online purchase while you are traveling, turn off your device's Wi-Fi connection and use your mobile device's cellular data internet connection instead of making the transaction over an unsecure Wi-Fi network. Turn off Bluetooth when not in use Bluetooth-enabled accessories can be helpful, such as earpieces for hands-free talking and external keyboards for ease of typing. When these devices are not in use, turn off the Bluetooth setting on your phone. Cyber criminals have the capability to pair with your phone's open Bluetooth connection when you are not using it and steal personal information. Be cautious when charging Avoid connecting your mobile device to any computer or charging station that you do not control, such as a charging station at an airport terminal or a shared computer at a library. Connecting a mobile device to a computer using a USB cable can allow software running on that computer to interact with the phone in ways that a user may not anticipate. As a result, a malicious computer could gain access to your sensitive data or install new software. Don't Fall Victim to Phishing Scams If you are in the shopping mode, an email that appears to be from a legitimate retailer might be difficult to resist. If the deal looks too good to be true, or the link in the email or attachment to the text seems suspicious, do not click on it! What to do if your accounts are compromised If you notice that one of your online accounts has been hacked, call the bank, store, or credit card company that owns your account. Reporting fraud in a timely manner helps minimize the impact and lessens your personal liability. You should also change your account passwords for any online services associated with your mobile device using a different computer that you control. If you are the victim of identity theft, additional information is available from http://www.idtheft.gov/. For even more information about keeping your devices safe, read Cybersecurity for Electronic Devices. Produced in 2011 by US-CERT, a government organization. US-CERT is part of the Department of Homeland SecurityTerms of use

Another parcel bomb in Europe

The reports of a second parcel bomb in Europe raises obvious concerns. Organizations should be reviewing their mail handling procedures. See the links on the previous blog posting or at the JCRC Security Resources page.

Explosive Device Sent to Bank CEO

The NYPD confirmed that a mail (package) explosive device was addressed and sent to CEO, Dr. Joseph Ackermann of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, Germany.  The package was detected by x-ray technology inside the mail room.  The package did not detonate.  

An investigation is ongoing.We suggest that you review our previous posts:Rethinking mail screening and More tips for package screening. You can also download Guidelines for Suspicious Mail or Packages, Informational Bulletin on Suspicious Envelopes and Suspicious Package indicators.
 
The NYPD SHIELD unit advises that all mail room employees become aware of this information and pay special attention to incoming deliveries.

Safety and Survival in Protests & Civil Unrest:

Since the political protests, now known as the "Arab Spring" grabbed headlines around the world, XBRM has been increasingly called upon by business leaders and public officials to provide insight into human behavior in group, crowd and mob situations, and help develop effective strategies to reduce the risks and address safety concerns associated with protests and acts of civil unrest. As the "American Autumn" has become defined by the various "Occupy" movements in cities across the country, these largely peaceful protests have been punctuated by increasingly aggressive behavior, and in one instance in Oakland, a violent death.

See the guidance from XBRM here.

Hate crime reports released

2010 FBI Report Released/ADL studies

Intimidation…vandalism…assault…rape…murder. These are crimes by anyone’s definition. But add an element of bias against the victims—because of their race or religion, for example—and these traditional crimes become hate crimes. And based on data from the FBI’s  Hate Crime Statistics report for 2010, the 6,628 hate crime incidents reported to us by our law enforcement partners stayed consistent with the 6,604 incidents reported in 2009.

The ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents cataloged 1,239 examples of assaults, vandalism and harrassment in 2010. Its 2011 Survey of American Attitudes Toward Jews in America found that anti-Semitic attitudes are rising in the US.

Shocking arson in Flatbush

Statement of

Michael S. Miller

Executive Vice President and CEO

We were shocked to learn of the horrific arson of cars -- with accompanying anti-Semitic messages -- on Ocean Parkway in Flatbush. We are gratified that the precinct and the Hate Crimes Task Force are investigating and are confident that the NYPD will follow the evidence wherever it leads.

The track record of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force was further enhanced today as they arrested a suspect accused of defacing two Queens libraries, a synagogue and a church. We congratulate them on their success. Anyone contemplating a hate crime in New York City should think twice when the Hate Crimes Task Force is on the case.

Airport x-rays, new technology

The JCRC was invited by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to join a group of religious leaders to critique the implementation of the airport passenger screening process. Leaders of many faiths expressed concerns regarding modesty and safety. Today, TSA officials reached out to us to update us on pertinent developments.See the TSA "readout" here.

The TSA is in the process of introducing new Advanced Imaging Technology which will substantially address the questions of modesty. Any potential threat items that are detected are detected by an automated system and indicated on a generic outline of a person (rather than the passenger's body). If no potential threat items are detected, an "OK" appears on the monitor with no outline.(See the illustrations below.)

Click here to can get more information on the new system. Deployment of the new technology is not yet scheduled for the major NYC area (see the current list here), but the TSA plans to eventually  install it everywhere.

The backscatter technology used in the system  was evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). All reported that it is safe and meets national health and safety standards. Click here to read more and download the evaluations.

They also informed us of new Risk-Based Security and Pre-Check pilot programs which will allow passengers to voluntarily provide more information about themselves, so that the TSA can better segment the population in terms of risk and provide expedited screening for "trusted travelers". See more information here.

On Nov. 9th remember: it's only a test

FEMA wants everyone to know about the upcoming, nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test on Wednesday, November 9th at 2PM.All broadcast stations are scheduled to participate. Although the EAS is frequently used by State and local governments to send weather alerts and other emergency information, there has never been a national activation of the system. The purpose of the November 9, 2011 test is to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the current system.

Click here for more information from FEMA. Please share this message with your communities and through your social networks.