JFK Community Outreach offi ce opens in Jamaica
Officials celebrate the opening of the JFK Redevelopment Community Outreach Office in Jamaica. Photo by Jeff Yapalater
BY JEFF YAPALATER
Port Authority executives,
Congressman Gregory
Meeks, Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz,
state Assembly members,
Community Board members,
community leaders and
stakeholders were on hand
for the ribbon cutting of the
new JFK Redevelopment
Community Outreach office
on Jamaica Avenue.
The office was created
to involve the community
during development of the
$13 billion JFK Airport
Redevelopment project. It
is open to the public and
intended to be focal point for
Queens residents’ jobs and
career opportunities with a
high percentage directed to
MWBE businesses.
“The new Queens
outreach office at JFK will
engage with local residents
and connect them with jobs
and opportunities, ensuring
the local community is heard
This is part of the community and the
community helped put it together.
and its needs are met every
step of the way throughout
this historic redevelopment
project,” Governor Andrew
Cuomo said.
Port Authority Aviation
Director Huntley Lawrence
referred to the governor’s
recent announcement that
more than half the recent hires
at the developing LaGuardia
Airport are from Queens.
“Most important thing to
remember is that we mean
business when we say we
want to connect with the
community. I look forward to
a lot of great news from the
office in the near future,”
Lawrence said.
Meeks inspired the
guests with a resounding
appreciation for all the work
everyone has done to create
this Center.
“This is indeed a good
day” pointing to all the work
done mainly by minority
contractors, he said. “We
are helping to build bridges
around our airports, not
building any walls.”
“This is part of the
community and the
community helped put it
together,” Meeks added. “We
are setting the example how
you do a project and how
community is intricately
involved every step of the
way. Often money from a
project goes out; here it will
stay in.”
Meeks pointed out the
ever increasing support
of collaboration between
the Port Authority and
the community.
“From the early efforts by
Jim Heyliger and Philippa
Karteron when working
with the Port and bringing
in community benefits when
the Airtrain project was
first conceived. Now, going
forward the community
residents are the first to get
opportunities of benefits
from a project like this. We
are now able to build upon
this cooperation today,”
Meeks said. “We will show
the country that inclusion
and economy benefits go
to all. The Outreach team
in this office understands
the community and
the mission.”
Katz, along with
the co-chair of the JFK
Redevelopment Advisory
Committee, reflected on the
success of the AirTrain and
thanked Meeks for the work
he does in Washington, D.C.,
on Queens’ behalf.
“We’ve done this not
only with colleagues but
with the community also
through the advisory
council,” Katz said. “We
are proud of the fact we are
working together with the
community, giving second
chances, training and
apprentice programs.”
The office is located at 144-
33 Jamaica Ave. and will be
open daily to the public from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Fridays. The office will be
open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on
Thursdays.
16 TIMESLEDGER, MARCH 22-28, 2019 BT FT TL QNS.COM
/QNS.COM
