Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Governance

Governance

The Port Authority is jointly headed by the governors of New York and New Jersey. Each governor, with the approval of his or her state senate, appoints six members to the Board of Commissioners, who serve overlapping six-year terms without pay. As of March 2012, the appointed commissioners are as follows:

• David Samson (NJ, Chairman)
• Scott H. Rechler (NY, Vice-Chairman)
• Virginia S. Bauer (NJ)
• H. Sidney Holmes III (NY)
• Jeffrey H. Lynford (NY)
• Jeffrey A. Moerdler (NY)
• Raymond M. Pocino (NJ)
• Anthony J. Sartor, Ph.D., P.E., P.P. (NJ)
• William "Pat" Schuber, Esq., BA, JD (NJ)
• Henry R. Silverman (NY)
• David S. Steiner (NJ)

Meetings of the Board of Commissioners are public. Members of the public may address the Board at these meetings, subject to a prior registration process via email. Public records of the Port Authority may be requested via the Office of the Secretary according to an internal Freedom of Information policy which is intended to be consistent with and similar to the state Freedom of Information policies of both New York and New Jersey.

A governor can veto actions by the commissioners from the same state. Members of the Board of Commissioners are typically business titans and political power brokers who maintain close relationships with their respective Governors. On February 3, 2011, Former New Jersey Attorney General David Samson was named new chairman of the Port Authority.

Financially, the Port Authority has no power to tax and does not receive tax money from any local or state governments. Instead, it operates on the revenues it makes from its rents, tolls, fees, and facilities.

An Executive Director is appointed by the Board of Commissioners to deal with day-to-day operations and to execute the Port Authority's policies. Patrick J. Foye became Executive Director on November 1, 2011. Prior to joining the Port Authority, he served as Deputy Secretary for Economic Development for Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.