Time to Move Forward on Airport Plan

As the debate swirls over County Executive Rob Astorino’s plan for a public-private partnership to run the County Airport, the Business Council of Westchester remains adamant in its support of this creative approach. The BCW’s leadership has been meeting with the County Executive and County Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz urging them to move forward with this plan in which the county would receive $111 million over a 40-year contract with Oaktree Capital Management, which will run the airport and invest $30 million in capital improvements. The plan would also free up a $20 million airport fund that can now be used to help pay for other county needs.

The BCW has long advocated the concept of public-private partnerships as an innovative way to reduce the financial burden on businesses and taxpayers, while allowing private investment in improvements to public facilities that otherwise would not be possible. We should not lose this unique opportunity to improve and enhance one of our county’s most important economic assets.