For the majority of county residents who do not use the Westchester airport, prior proposals
to generate additional revenue instead of through property taxes at the facility without expanding the footprint or allowing more flights seemed to make sense.
Concerned that the future of Westchester County Airport is in jeopardy, the Business Council of Westchester recently launched the Coalition for Westchester Airport, uniting a broad range of businesses, labor organizations, educators, nonprofits and residents in support of one of the county’s most valuable assets.
“Just as the BCW led the charge to build the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, we are now focusing on another crucially important element of Westchester’s transportation and economic infrastructure – the Westchester County Airport,” said Marsha Gordon, BCW president and CEO. “We are representing the interests of the traveling community, the business community and the neighboring community, to make sure that all interests are heard, respected and balanced. The future of Westchester County Airport is at stake, and we all have a stake in the airport.”
During a news conference at the BCW headquarters in Rye Brook, the coalition urged residents to learn the facts and sign an online petition at CoalitionforWestchesterAirport.org. The petition will automatically be sent via email to County Executive George Latimer and members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
The coalition also announced the start of a robust informational campaign that will roll out across the county in coming weeks to continue to unite stakeholders.
“The airport is crucially important to attract and retain a wide spectrum of businesses that bolster the local economy and strengthen the tax base,” said John Ravitz, BCW executive vice president. “The airport also is a valuable tool for workforce development, and directly and indirectly employs thousands of people in diverse industries. Yet the airport is under threat. The last thing we want is for Westchester to take 10 steps backwards because a relatively small but well-organized group of opponents has mobilized and dominated the discussion.”
The Coalition for Westchester Airport has already attracted support from a diverse group, including Accreditation Guru; AllShows; Altium Wealth; Business of Your Business, LLC; Cappelli Organization; D&M Electrical; Federated Insurance; Hilton Westchester; Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce; JDM Benefits; Madison Approach; Maier Markey & Justic LLP; Mastercard; Million Air; Nicholas & Lence Communications; OLA Consulting Engineers; Red Oak Transportation; Robert Martin Company, LLC; Singer Law; Statewide Abstract Corp; Thalle Industries; Walison Corp; Westchester Aircraft Maintenance Assoc.; Westchester Hotel Association; Wilkes Law Group; and York International Agency; among other individuals.
To add your company to the coalition, email your name and logo directly to IRamos@thebcw.org or visit CoalitionforWestchesterAirport.org.
The coalition is calling on the county to support an approach that provides high-quality air travel while protecting the environment and respecting the airport’s residential neighbors. The coalition does not advocate for enlarging the airport, but does call for making reasonable enhancements that would improve the airport’s existing services and facilities, stating that a public/private partnership would work well in Westchester.
Westchester County Airport has been successfully operating for 70 years, always under private management selected by and reporting to the county. A public/private partnership – as had been extensively studied under the previous administration and representatives of the Board of Legislators – would bring in a partner with a proven track record of addressing many of the noise and environmental concerns. The county would still retain overall control of the airport, and no expansion or major changes could be undertaken without a vote of the Board of Legislators.
No expansion has been proposed.
“The 2017 request for proposal process for a proposed public/private partnership required an in-depth study of the issues confronting the airport and its operations,” said Ravitz. “The current chairman of the County Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin, and the chair of its Infrastructure Committee, MaryJane Shimsky, were on the review team and are familiar with these studies. As part of the ongoing review process, we recommend that the information in the RFP responses be examined by the current board. Included in them are practical and effective ways of addressing many of the issues surrounding the airport, including concerns about environmental and noise protections.”
Deb Milone, executive director of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, said it is time to put aside the “hysteria and misconceptions” being spread and focus on the facts. “The public/private partnership will improve the airport’s infrastructure and environment at no cost to the county taxpayer, as well as unlock trapped revenue from the airport and provide the county with a long-term revenue stream that can be used to fix our highways, improve our parks and provide essential services,” she said.
Sean Meade, president of the Westchester Hotel Association and general manager of Cambria Hotel & Suites, added: “Every general manager who is a member of the Westchester Hotel Association values the importance of the airport to the hotel industry. It is imperative that everyone working together continues to make the airport as strong as it can be so that as the hotels continue to recruit businesses for conventions and other events, we can point to the airport as a strong attraction to come to Westchester – boosting not only hotel spending, but overall tourism spending, as well.”
Frank Williams, executive director of the White Plains Youth Bureau, said there is great demand for workers in the aviation field, and the Westchester County Airport is essential for workforce development.
“This includes airplane pilots, mechanics, maintenance, operation managers, customer service workers, engineers, air traffic control and more,” he said. “Last year, James Parker, a retired airplane pilot, donated a flight simulator to the Youth Bureau. This gift has enabled us to create a new, exciting and prosperous career path for our youth, and the response has been incredible.”
Last year, former County Executive Rob Astorino proposed a new public-private partnership
for the airport that was rejected by the County Board of Legislators. Current County Executive George Latimer has held public meetings and taken action on concerns over noise, air and water quality and is moving forward with a new master plan.
