Meeks Speaks again Revisits
JFK Chamber of Commerce
On October 21, Congressman
Meeks returned to the
JFK Chamber of Commerce
in a virtual venue discuss the
current stat4 of affairs and
answer questions on how the
pandemic has impacted the
Airports as part of the 5th District
he represents . (Note that
a lot has changed since his appearance
with a new President
elect. So a lot may change).
Chaired by Chamber
of commerce President Al
DePhillips, and coordinated
by Phillipa Karteron, the hour
long session ranged from Covid,
recent Congressional stimulus
to future infrastructure.
Meeks opened by saying ,“ The
JFK airport and business are
very important me and to the
economy of the district.”
He said that there is a lot
of disagreement in Congress
with both side gong “back and
forth on the current new stimulus
package.
The proposed $500 billion
the Senate offered “is just not
enough to stimulate the economy.”
He admitted that Mc-
Connell said there would not
be a stimulus package before
the election. When asked it the
AirTrain and JFK Redevelopment
were contingent on additional
Congressional funding
he said that the Port needs
money for these projects. He
pointed out that is Important
to extend the LGA and JFK
airport leases so that “ We
can figure how to extend the
financing as necessary or the
shortage of dollars.”
One of the reasons it is hard
to get Port funding is because
the Port is a multi state agency.
Meeks said there is no money
allowed in the proposed plans
for these entities. Most states
do not have this type of agency
and are reluctant to make an
exception. The other is that the
President has stated he will
not give money to Blue cities or
states so that also impedes any
stimulus money.
“We feel that $400 billion is
a reasonable reimbursement
to city and states but the President
disagrees. Not getting
this money wold be devastating
. Signing off on a deal with
out the state getting money is
difficult,” he remarked. The final
problem is “Once you agree
on a number you have to figure
how to spend it.” So he said this
was apart of the big fight.
AIRPORT V 10 OICE, NOVEMBER 2020
“Seems to me we need over
$2 trillion . The states need
to get a fair share to survive.
We need to put in money to
kick start the economy more-
it will roar. We need to feed
economy to get it going again.”
He reiterated, “We are trying
desperately to get more money
for the Port in the stimulus package
as well as dollars through
infrastructure package through
the extension of the airports
leases to strike a deal which is
tremendously important. “
On anotthr question of
whether Covid testing is a better
remedy than quarantine.“
if we had a national policy,
airports working together we
could find out what works and
we could maintain a policy
to remain safe.” Other than
9-11, March and April worst
time for me. Every hospital
overwhelmed. So many died. I
don’t’ ever want this that happen
again, so the Governor is
he is taking charge which he
can do absent there being a
federal policy.”
With a lack of a national
policy, he said that the Governor
had to do his best in setting
up infection zones which
fall into certain areas of less
wealth. He said is was a shame
to have to close schools, shut
down businesses and he is
hopeful that those businesses
can reopen with the help of a
stimulus bill.
To a question about the
global supply chain, Meeks
replied that he hopes to Chair
the Foreign Affairs Committee
to work with other countries
before the disruption and
pandemic. “ We are too connected
and can’t isolate one
culture. Our allies will see
that we want to work together
and we will come up with a
policy that will help us all.”
Board member Philippa
Karteron asked about continued
supporting the need for
equal opportunities and how
the Chamber can work with
the Congressman in this objective
for the community.
Meeks said he would continue
to work with the Chamber
and recommended that
Chamber set up a committee
so he can see what job opportunities
there are and how he
can help.” We can work with
other organizations and supply
workforce if needed. We
can create a forum that can
help with employees and suggest
business opportunities as
well.” He added as we get back
to normal, we are taking to
Port committees already set
up and to get back on track.”
Meeks also stressed the need
for avenues to access capital,
‘”We need ti be sure to create
access to capital for minority
enterprises. Even when we are
on a pause, opportunities exist
that we can address..
When asked about the fees
that the Port is continuing to
collect, the hurt it is creating
for many businesses and perhaps
deferrals for such fees,
he replied, “I’m willing to
work with the Port and governor
to see what we can do to
help these businesses survive.
They heed a helping hand. I
want to make sure you can
service. And not have to furlough
workers during this
transition back,”
He said that there are
things we can do to collectively
get through the pandemic.
“ I want to hear the problems
that businesses at the
airport have because I want to
work wit them and mas sure
we get through this.” Emphatically
he continued, “Don’t hesitate
to send me your concerns
about your business and what
you need to service. I will go to
D.C., the Mayor, and the Governor
as your advocate.”
Meeks called upon the
Chamber to share the concerns
so he can an advocate
and add solutions to congressional
stimulus bill and other
colleagues. “It’s a big package,
and we have a second opportunity
to talk infrastructure, a
large package for airports and
transportation,” he said.
“The JFK Chamber of
Commerce is important to me.
We will follow up with you.
That’s what we are here
for,” he exclaimed.
Chamber President Al DePhillips, Congressman Meeks
JFK Resumption of Services plan October highlights of the working group
Additional actions at
JFK include audits of compliance
with Port directives
for health and safety protocols.
These audits include
facility inspection for implementation
of these safety
procedures such as sanitizers,
masks and signage.
measuring the effectiveness
of terminal and community
safety basics and the success
of health form collections.
In terms of airport
workers complying with
masks, Rizzuto said that
BORs would be issued to
se=airport badge holders to
enforce participation.
One terminal operator
questioned the aptitude of
some of the National Guard
stating that they were not
entirely familiar with the
details of the health form issuance
to travelers. One officer
of the Guard remarked
that hey felt the compliance
was gong well. She felt that
the visibility of a uniform
implied serious enforcement
and found greater respect
from travelers. Another airline
executive said that some
travelers found some of the
Guard to be intimidating
and too forceful in their requests.
Rizzuto responded
that the changeover to this
unit is new and that they
are holding daily calls and
training to keep the National
Guard up to date.
She also remarked that
the Port has been supplying
the airport with tens of
thousands of masks to help
in the effort to contain the
spread of the virus. JFKIAT
believes that is is important
that everyone walks and
talks with the staff so the
whole community is spreading
the same message.
The CBP reported that
their Simplified arrival program
is working successful
providing touch less
inbound arrivals. This program
is currently in most
terminals with full airport
implementation in near future.
Simplified Arrival is
an enhanced international
arrival process that uses
facial biometrics to automate
the manual document
checks that are already required
for admission into
the United States.
The entire airport wide
community is working hard
to restore some normality
to the commercial airline
world. A lot as been accomplished
after those dark
March-April days, but each
day more flights are in the
air, more passengers taking
trips and successful mandates
for for safe and healthy
travel are being successfully
implemented every day.
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