The Jersey City Council expressed dismay about spending $84,890.01 in grant money to purchase police radios as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup security efforts this summer.
“We have to buy Motorola radios because it’s for FIFA. And FIFA has already mandated equipment and uh contracts and interoperability for all the bits,” Police Communications Director Robert Baker Sr. explained. He noted that the radios are nearly $9,000 each.
“We’re required to get certain radios for FIFA’s standards? Is FIFA reimbursing? This is our grant money that we should be able to use for what is necessary,” Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros declared.
“Oh, I wish,” Baker chuckled, indicating that their hands were tied on this…