Community Update Newsletter

In this issue:
	THOMPSON REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO ADDRESS CONGESTION AT AREA AIRPORTS
	THOMPSON DEMANDS PRESIDENT BOOST NYC COUNTERTERRORISM FUNDING
	COMPTROLLER COLLECTS NEARLY 1,000 TOYS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE CITY

THOMPSON REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED TO ADDRESS CONGESTION AT AREA AIRPORTS

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A new report by New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. finds that escalating flight delays at area airports - far outpacing those in the rest of the nation - are diminishing the city’s competitive edge in the global marketplace and increasing pollution in adjacent neighborhoods.

“One of the New York City’s major competitive advantages is its outstanding air connections with the rest of the nation and the world. This advantage is now being degraded by the declining reliability of air travel into and out of New York,” Thompson said.

Thompson examined the causes of the deterioration in on-time performance and its impact on New York City’s economic competitiveness as well as local air quality.
Thompson’s report analyzed recent flight and passenger trends, departure and arrival delays, and flight cancellations at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark International Airport. Among Thompson’s findings:

Airline on-time performance at the major New York airports has plummeted, and the decrease has been much greater than in other cities. In 2003, the New York airports’ average on-time arrival rate was five percentage points below the national rate but in the first three-quarters of 2007 it was 13 points below the national rate.
The average taxi-out (the period between gate departure and “wheels up”) has increased several times as much in New York than elsewhere in the country.
New York airports have among the nation’s highest flight cancellation rates.
The leading contributors to delays are: an antiquated air traffic control system; poor management by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of efforts to modernize the system; not enough certified air traffic controllers and poor labor relations with controllers; and, airlines’ over-scheduling of flights during peak hours.

The Comptroller recommended, in part, that the FAA accelerate modernization of the nation’s air traffic control system and prioritize New York, which has by far the worse flight delays in the nation, and also employ enough certified air traffic controllers to efficiently handle air traffic and must settle its differences with the controllers’ union.

You can read the report - “Grounded: The Impact of Mounting Flight Delays on New York City’s Economy & Environment” – at www.comptroller.nyc.gov.

THOMPSON DEMANDS PRESIDENT BOOST NYC COUNTERTERRORISM FUNDING

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Comptroller Thompson is calling on President George W. Bush to reverse course and restore counterterrorism funding for New York City and increase financial support for area port and transit security.

In a letter to President George W. Bush, Thompson called the federal Office of Management and Budget’s plan to cut funding an “ill-considered plan [that] significantly imperils high-risk targets including New York City.”

“There can be little doubt that New York City remains the nation’s top terrorist target and that city residents must remain ever-vigilant against terrorist threats,” Thompson said. “Slashing Homeland Security funds to New York City in light of this highly elevated risk is quite simply irresponsible.”

In the letter – available at www.comptroller.nyc.gov - Thompson noted that if Homeland Security funds are pared the City will be forced to maintain its current level of security funding through the use of local taxpayer dollars, burdening the City’s finances at a time when the economy is slowing.

Thompson called on the OMB to increase Homeland Security funds to the City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He said further funds could be generated by House-approved legislation to yield New York City $7.3 billion over four years to boost rail and bus security (although that measure has stalled in the Senate).

“I strongly urge you to support this legislation, and to leave intact New York City’s current allocation from Homeland security,” Thompson wrote. “The first priority of government is to ensure the safety and security of its residents.”

COMPTROLLER COLLECTS NEARLY 1,000 TOYS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE CITY

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr.'s Office of Community Relations collects gifts for the Comptroller's fifth annual toy drive. Pictured (l to r) are: Walter Roundtree; Martha Ayon; Rafael Escano; and, Jason Laidley. Photo Credit: Marla S. Maritzer

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. collected nearly 1,000 toys – including dolls, teddy bears, board and electronic games and toy cars - for children across the city in his fifth annual toy drive.

“Through generous gifts provided by employees of the Comptroller’s Office and private donors, we have once again been able to gather nearly one thousand toys to help bring joy to families across the area this month,” Thompson said.

The toys were distributed at schools and community organizations in the five boroughs.