NEW YORK, NY January 03, 2007 —Thirteen smaller U.S. cities, including San Diego and Laramie County, Wyoming, fared better than New York in a study of emergency communications. This is according to a draft of a Homeland Security Department report scheduled to be released today.

Republican Michael Balboni is Governor Eliot Spitzer's pick to lead New York's Homeland Security team. The former state senator will distribute hundreds of millions of federal dollars to local governments. Balboni spoke with WNYC's Bob Hennelly about the challenges he faces in his new job.