San Diego won almost $15 million in such grants in 2005, but has been told it can no longer apply for the money because it is not among the nation's high-risk areas. Sanders, county supervisors, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the region's House delegation and California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have all asked the department to reconsider San Diego's eligibility. The department agreed earlier this month to meet with city officials to analyze the data that were used to drop San Diego.
Sanders said he left Thursday's meeting with few specifics. But he received assurances that when he returns to D.C. next week for a longer trip, “we would know very clearly what they are basing the grants on, so we can word our grant (proposal) in a way so we can participate.”