PORT TIME CAPSULE SEALED
PANYNJ Board Chairman Kevin O’Toole, Vice-Chairman Jeffrey Lynford, Executive Director
Rick Cotton “shake” hands Pandemic-style at the Time Capsule Celebration at World Trade
Center Campus.
Executive Director Cotton shared his
thoughts by saying, “Today is the time to
come to celebrate the 100th Anniversary
of the Port Authority. 100 years ago they
came together to sign a bi-state compact between
New York and New Jersey, creating
the Port with great hopes and ambitions.
We have lived up to these ambitions.”
He added that it takes 8000 employees,
an army of skilled union workers and
five operating divisions, to enable the
Port to do what it does and he thanked
the leaders of the unions for dedication
and partnership and the PAPD keeps us
and facilities safe, and giving kindness
to save lives.Pointing to the ceremonial
plaque that covers the time capsule for
the next 100 hears, he said it is a tribute
to all who have made an impact through
the Port’s works.
Of the first First 100 years he said,”We
have been a self-sustaining agency to
generateour own revenue and sell bonds.
No taxpayer’s dollars. We have the Best
talent of the region for public good.”
Cotton listed the achievements of
the Port saying it created remarkably,
in the 1st decade alone, Port built the
Outer Bridge crossing and the Goethals
opened.
Cotton continued praise, “And our
current historyhas been been remarkable.
We re-built the WTC campus after
911, recovered from Sandy, built a new
Goethals bridge, raised the Bayonne for
super large vessels servicing the 2nd
busiedport in country and acquiring-
StewartAirport in 2007.
Cotton proclaimed,” We are transforming
Newark Airport with a flagship
state of the art terminal and the redevelopment
of JFK, new bold plans for
21st century bus terminal, and bringing
the WTC closer to final restoration and
are doing it all while focused on diversity
inclusion and sustainability, better
customer experience, technology, best
global practices and the last 15 months
we continues to get things done in spite
of pandemic.”
In closing both O’Toole and the Board
of gave a fitting tribute to Robert Orwell
who has been one of the longest held employment
at the port for 55 years, since
1955, who O’Toole said, he has no plans
to retire.
Much like the Port, he still has many
things to do.
Congratulations
to The Port Authority
of New York &
New Jersey on
your Centennial
Anniversary.
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buildings that have fallen, some artifacts
from the past so people ofthe future
won’t forget.We stand here humbled and
gratefulfor all the sacrifice and tell you
that Rick and I will make sure the foundation
when we leave is stronger and
more vibrant than ever as that vision 78
years ago of harnessing. We are doing
that right now. “
Vice-Chairman Jeff Lynford said
“This centennial is certainly a day for
celebrations. What messages do we
leave? We have used convocation, reflection,
thanks and contemplation to
define and share the 100 years accomplishments.
We are the nations largest
bi-state infrastructure agency.It is ours
to contemplate what the American Jobs
Plan can mean for the authority’s second
century of growth; to define how the airport
should access and assist the fed government,
state and sister agencies; to fulfill
our collective destiny’s in rebuilding
the nation’s infrastructure. “
He continued, “Going forward we
should communicate to a wider audience
that the $3 trillion dollars jobs plan is
not only about money but also about people.
We must reaffirm the Port’s physical
structure is bound together with our human
infrastructure to keep our region
moving.
Lynford compared the 1930’s WPA
(Works Progress Administration) where
federal funds financed infrastructure
nationwide to the proposed AJP. “As
importantly as addressingsocial issues,
correspondingly the AJP seeks to
promote environmental sustainability,
equal pay for women, minimum wages
for non-union workers, enhanced safety
for traveling public, and installing less
arduous ways for those with disabilities,
and to expose and expunge bigotry and
racism in our work place,” Lynford said.
He solemnly said, “We applaud the offices
of the PAPD who perform selfless acts
of couragedaily and we must follow the
fine tradition of almost 150 commissions
who have come before us and solemnly exercise
the greatest duty of loyalty for the institution
and the people we serve.
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