Kathryn Garcia, a top aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has been named the next executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, succeeding Rick Cotton, who announced his retirement last week.
The Port Authority, which operates the seaports in the region in addition to the three major airports, several bridges and bus service, is jointly controlled by the governors of New York and New Jersey – though New York’s governor appoints the executive director.
Cotton expressed support for Garcia.
“Gov. Hochul’s nomination of Kathryn Garcia as the next executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a superb choice,” he said in a statement. “I have worked closely with Kathryn for many years. She has deep knowledge of city and state government combined with extraordinary insight and judgment and a collaborative spirit.
“I could not imagine a government executive better suited to advance the Port Authority’s standards of world-class infrastructure and get things done.”
Garcia, the former sanitation commissioner in New York City, made a run for mayor in 2021, barely losing the Democratic nomination to eventual winner, Erik Adams.
As executive director, she will work with Chairman Kevin O’Toole, universally regarded for his leadership as chairman of the Port since taking the position in the summer of 2017.
The Port has big plans.
The Port, responsible for the well-received transformation of Terminal A at Newark Liberty, currently is seeking approval for a historic $45 billion capital plan that will upgrade many areas. Among them, is a $6.2 billion ask to redo Terminal B. https://binje.com/inside-ports-proposed-6-2-billion-transformation-of-terminal-b-at-newark-liberty/
Cotton, 81, oversaw several major infrastructure projects, including the rebuilding of LaGuardia Airport in Queens, a $19 billion overhaul of Kennedy International Airport and the planning for reconstruction of the bus terminal in Midtown Manhattan. He was appointed in 2017 by then New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
