JFK Community Benefits
Agreement proposal
AIRPORT VOICE, JANUARY 2022 3
Queens Connection coalition offers a detailed plan
Executive Sumary-The State
of New York, through the Port
Authority of New York and New
Jersey (PA) has commenced a
plan to redevelop John F. Kennedy
International Airport. The
John F. Kennedy International
Airport Redevelopment Program
calls for a $13 billion dollar investment.
The New York State Senate
and Assembly members for
Southeast Queens, in recognizing
the potential benefits and detriment
of the proposed program,
has called the community to action.
The coalition known as the
Queens Connection Team which
consists of Community Board 12,
Community Board 14; Supthin
BID; the Association of Minority
Enterprise of New York, the Center
for Community Advancement;
Rev. Phil Craig of Greater Springfield
Community Church and
other stakeholders have collectively
set out to draft a Community
Benefits Agreement (CBA)
in an effort to ensure further development
of local businesses;
job training and placement; educational
services, meet the 30%
MWBE goal and enhance the
quality of life for the South East
Queens community.
The implementation of the
CBA will require $307.5 Million.
The content of the CBA includes
residential noise mitigation benefits
for $37.5 million, workforce
and economic development benefits
for $37.5 million; air quality
studies for $37.5 million; health
studies for 37.5 million; green
building principals for $37.5 million;
transportation benefits for
$37.5 million; education benefits
for $37.5 million and a business
incubator for $45 million.
The John F. Kennedy International
Airport Community benefits
Agreement Board (JFK-CBA
Board), designed to serve as
the CBA compliance arm, will be
guided by the Port Authority of
NY/NJ, using Robert’s Rules of
Order. The Board will fashion a
mission statement, rules to govern
themselves, and follow the
CBA’s methodology to fund the
agreed upon areas. They shall
serve two-year terms, and can be
re-appointed to no more than two
following terms. The CBA monies
shall be paid over a ten-year
period and should commence a
year before the major renovation
to JFK begin. This will ensure implementation
of the CBA areas.
The CBA funds shall be paid
yearly into an escrow account
overseen by the State Comptroller.
Similar to what was known
as the “Pathmark Fund” which
was held by the NYC Comptroller
(2001-2005), the State Comptroller
is tasked with the responsibility
to ensure that the monies are
properly collected and allocated,
with transparency being properly
maintained.
The JFK-CBA Board will be
composed of elected officials
whose communities are impacted
as defined by the part
150 Sound Study. The assigned
elected officials will then appoint
a complete board, totaling
25 members. The Fifth Congressional
District Representative will
appoint five members, the NYS
10th Senatorial District Representative
will appoint four members;
the NYS 14th Senatorial
District Representative will appoint
three members; the NYS
31st Assembly Representative
will appoint three members; the
NYS 32nd Assembly Representative
will appoint three members;
the NYS 29th Assembly
Representative will appoint two
members; the NYS 33rd Assembly
Representative will appoint
two members; the NYC 27th District
Council member will appoint
one member; the NYC 28th District
Council member will appoint
one member and the NYC 31st
District Council member will appoint
one member.