PANYNJ Board Meeting March 25
Juneteenth is now a Port holiday, Zero Tolerance for Hate
The March Port Authority
Board meeting topics included
financial results for 2020 and
the impact moving forward
into 2021, the FAA approval of
the LGA AirTrain EIS, selection
of WTC new management
company, commendations
for PAPD life saving actions,
Port position against the hate
behavior and actions against
the Asian American and Pacific
Island people (AAPI),
stand for racial equality and
creation Port holiday of Juneteenth,
June 19, 2021.
According to CFO Libby
McCarthy, the revenues from
the Port’s facilities continues
to fall sort of their required
finances to implement the infrastructure
projects, JFK
airport in particular, that
were in place in 2020. She
said that the reduced activity
and revenue generated in airports,
and mass transit will
continue to have a negative
impact on financial strength
of the Port despite the funding
from the CARES Act and
8 AIRPORT VOICE, APRIL 2021
supplemental December 2020
fundings.
Executive Director Rick
Cotton extremely low volume
in airports and PATH continue
to drive revenue loss
and $3 billion shortfall loss
through March 2022. “ This is
the worst financial downturn
in recent history for the Port,
“ he aid.
He said the Port appreciated
the American Rescue
plan and the Port share of
this aid but it is not sufficient
to cover the losses and negatively
impacts the ability for
the Port to advance region
economic recovery through
the planned infrastructure
projects.
The good news related to
the Board from Cotton was
the recent approval of the Final
Environmental Impact
Statement from the FAA for
the LaGuardia Airtrain. He
said the FAA supports the
Port project and did not find
any other acceptable alternatives
nor environmental
issues, “the FAA Record of
Decision expected within
weeks, paves the way for the
AirTrain which will reduce
the number of cars on the
road, reduce air pollution,
provide community benefits
for the community while providing
public transportation
to the ongoing construction
of LGA into a 21st Century
Airport.” He added that the
agency is committed to advancing
the LGA and EWR
AirTrain projects in parallel
as critical elements for ongoing
redevelopment projects.
In an overall remarks, Cotton
said that the Covid crisis
continues to dominate the
agency’s efforts, but that the
facilities continue operate
at high standards and that
the Port is continual evaluating
safety measure to protect
employees and customers
adding, “ We are profoundly
grateful to employees for their
hard work and grateful for
23 unions that represent our
agency employees.”
With an air of concern,
Cotton said he wanted to report
on two social justice issues
that must be addressed
as top priority. First the agency’s
commitment and solidarity
with the AAPI community
and secondly the racism
against the Black community.
He shared the 25 point
program that Chief of Diversity
and Inclusion at the Port,
Mike Massiah’s initiative
at the Port to deal with solutions
to systemic racism in
the agency.
Massiah said that this program
was fueled in light of
George Floyd killing and BLM
movement. The initiative culminated
in a final report on
Race Dynamic listing 25 separate
initiatives., some which
have already been implemented
, declaring complete support for
and fulfill pledge by the Port to
““be respectful to each other in
a multicultural environment
within an Organization dedicated
to equity and diversity.”
said Massiah.
To further this commitment,
Port will close it’s offices
beginning this year in
recognize of Juneteenth, on
June 19th to learn about cultures
through symbolic and
real actions.
Comments on the AAPI discrimination
and hate crimes
can be found on an accompanying
article in this issue.
Chairman Kevin O’Toole
recognized eight PAPD offices
for 2 life saving actions; one
with the assistance of Dr, Oz,
who happened to be at the airport,
in saving the life of a passenger
at Newark Airport.
It was announced that he
Port awarded 7 year contract
to CBRE with (3) one year extensions
for the WTC system
wide property management
replacing the former contract
with Cushman Wakefield.
CBRE meets standards
of 30% minority MWBE, 3%
veteran owned business participation.
The next Board meeting is
scheduled for May
Juneteenth, Port Authority.
NYS and NYC Holiday
On June 19, 1863, Union Gen. Gordon Granger in Gavelston Texas, informed enslaved African-
Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. The day is also sometimes
called “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day.”
Port Authority
Centennial
May Special Issue
Supplement
Port releases “Taking Actions on Race
Dynamics” as a blueprint for change
and entry-level job categories that
have a high proportion of diverse
employees. These programs will
focus on networking, training and
mentorship programs for existing
employees to support their career
advancement.
New non-retaliation policy has
been extended to complaints concerning
workplace equity.
The appointment of an Employee
Experience Advisor charged with
more general resolution of workplace
equity issues, supporting productive
workplace practices and
creating an official office where
employees can discuss concerns
related to inclusion, workplace equity,
and respect in the workplace.
Improving the agency’s performance
evaluation system to include
emphasis on mitigating bias, improving
fairness and impartiality
in the evaluation process and allowing
multiple sources of feedback for
employee performance evaluations.
Initiatives to provide employees
with material on the history and
heritage of the multiple diverse cultures
represented at the agency and
foster greater cultural understanding
and dialogue, including the addition
of Juneteenth as a permanent
agency holiday, development of
a virtual cultural library highlighting
the diverse heritage of employees
and new policy enhancements
to support employees’ ability to express
their socio-political views appropriately
outside of work.
Employee-focused educational
seminars and presentations to employees
on Race, Transportation
and Economics throughout the Port
District.
Briefings for employees on the
agency’s current community outreach
programs. These presentations
will form the basis for seeking
out employee suggestions and feedback
to improve or strengthen these
efforts.
The steering committee was established
in June 2020 to examine
and address elements of race dynamics
within the Port Authority.
Nearly 30 employee listening sessions
were held, engaging approximately
2,400 participants from
across the agency, including union
employees and Employee Business
Resource Groups (EBRG). There
are plans to reconvene the Leadership
Steering Committee in September
2021 and again in March
2022 to review the implementation
of these initiatives and recommend
appropriate mid-course corrections
or adjustments based on experience.
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