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QUESTION

Is the airport board subject to open meetings law, and how is transparency ensured?

1:07:53

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4 min

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The airport board is not subject to open meetings law due to its formation by mayoral and Port Authority appointees, but efforts for transparency are highlighted, particularly through the JFK redevelopment program.

The legal department clarifies that the airport board's lease structure exempts it from open meetings law requirements.
Council Member Brooks Powers argues for the necessity of public visibility into board discussions, considering the public impact.
Mikelle Adgate points to the JFK redevelopment program as an example of proactive engagement and transparency.
The Community Advisory Council's role and the setting of agendas by the Port Authority, with consultation with co-chairs, are explored.
Powers emphasizes EDC's responsibility for ensuring transparency and accountability, particularly in major projects affecting environmental justice communities.

Brooks Powers

1:07:53

I did wanna follow-up on a question I had asked back at the hearing a year ago as it pertains to open meetings law, and I don't think we ever had had follow-up to it.

1:08:04

In your opinion, would the open meetings law apply to the airport ports meetings.

Mikelle Adgate

1:08:11

So this was a question that we took back to the lot department.

1:08:15

And as I explained earlier, the lot apartment's determination was that the airport board is not subject to open meetings law.

1:08:24

Again, because it is an entity between mayorial appointees and the Port Authority appointees to serve as a function of the lease.

1:08:35

It doesn't have the same sort of open meetings, law requirements that other public meetings would.

Brooks Powers

1:08:42

But one would think by considering the level of public impact that it has that it would be beneficial for the public to have a a a line of sight into some of the discussions that are happening behind closed doors.

Mikelle Adgate

1:08:58

I think one thing to to keep in mind is that EDC administers a lot of leases on behalf of the city of New York with various tenants of various sizes.

1:09:09

Through various different assets.

1:09:11

There are, you know, different levels of public information, and I will say from my experience coming on in the last couple of years, the JFK redevelopment program has some of the most ex journal facing documents and materials compared to other lease leases that we administer on behalf of the city.

1:09:33

Because of that creation of the Community Advisory Council.

1:09:38

And one thing, you know, as I said to chair Freddie Freddie is at the top, I don't believe that the 2004 lease really contemplated the type of external engagement that is taking place, and I I absolutely hear your point about the community looking for more information from the Port Authority.

1:10:00

At those meetings or looking for more materials to be shared.

1:10:05

And I'm sort of curious about the role of congressman Neeks and and the Queensboro president as co chairs of that body in terms of setting the agenda and partnering with the Port Authority on those meetings and what those in in terms of the topics that we've been discussing today, our understanding is that there's a meeting coming up in a in a couple of weeks, and it does seem like whether it's the traffic planning or some of the other items that have been raised.

1:10:35

That that would be the venue for those to be discussed?

Brooks Powers

1:10:40

Well, when the while the congressman and the bureau president our co chairs as the advisory council, the structure in which the agenda is set, is that the Port Authority sets the agenda They review it with the co chairs prior to advisory council meeting.

1:10:57

But again, the agenda is set by the Port Authority as someone who used to craft the agenda.

1:11:04

I'm just speaking of that, like, factually.

1:11:07

And why I do think that the advisory council has an important role to play.

1:11:13

I think it's important to have EDC assume its responsibilities as it's laid out and the least to help ensure a degree of transparency and accountability on the port authorities we have.

1:11:28

So that's what we're trying to really ensure it's taking place.

1:11:33

So we understand, like, the posh of EDC.

1:11:36

We have plenty of leased agreements that you oversee.

1:11:40

But this is a multibillion dollar infrastructure project happening in the midst of an environmental justice community.

1:11:47

And so we have to make sure that we're not just building a airport for private sectors and make more profits while leaving a community behind.

1:11:59

We have a real opportunity to be transformative and what happens in those surrounding communities by the benefits that can come out of the element.

1:12:09

And also by in forging a relationship, which at one point, the point authority, I know, you know, when talked to some of the elders in the community and hear about projects like the air training project and how they worked with community and what that looked like.

1:12:23

We know what is possible in terms of forging a relationship with members of the community and in creating space and not only hear them but carry out some of the things they like to see.

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