Vice President Biden, Gov. Cuomo Push To Revitalize NY's Airports
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Vice President Joe Biden and Gov. Andrew Cuomo are vowing to improve New York City's airports.
Biden joined Cuomo on Monday as the governor announced a design competition to modernize and improve John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports, bringing them up to 21st Century standards.
"We must modernize our airports if we want to keep our competitive advantage and grow," Cuomo said. "In terms of the amenities of the airport facilities themselves: JFK has none to speak of, LaGuardia has none to speak of. Dubai has an 88-room hotel, terminals, business centers; it's a totally different facility."
Biden made headlines earlier this year for saying that LaGuardia resembled "a third world country.''
Cuomo teased Biden about the comment but then said the vice president "was right.''
"The New York airports were outdated and needed fundamental redesign because they were not serving New York the way they should," Cuomo said.
The plans also include making better use of Stewart International Airport in the Hudson Valley and Republic Airport on Long Island.
Biden said the plans complement the White House's "bold'' plan to revitalize the nation's infrastructure.
"The United States of America ranks 28th in the world among the advanced nations in transportation infrastructure," Biden said. "It's ridiculous. The rest of the world is not standing by."
The pair appeared at a news conference at a college near LaGuardia.
Biden repeatedly praised his fellow Democrat, who's up for re-election next month.
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