Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Votes in Favor of Armenian Relief For 100,000 People Displaced by Conflict

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority voted to support Armenia relief efforts.

According to information provided to Pasadena Now, the commission, staff members, concessionaires, and vendors at the Hollywood Burbank Airport have previously supported public interest causes that had a nexus with the airport.

“This support has mainly been in the area of serving as a central delivery point for nonprofit organizations collecting goods and supplies for distribution, as well as supporting fundraising activities within the airport community,” states a press release issued on Kenndey’s request.

“As an example of the former, when space has been available, the authority has allowed goods and supplies to be briefly stored at the airport without charge while the nonprofit organization obtains logistical services for delivery. As an example of the latter, staff annually undertake a holiday fundraising effort to support a charitable organization in one of the Authority’s member cities,” according to the release.

Kennedy is also a City Councilmember in Pasadena and one of three members from Pasadena on the nine-person commission. The board also includes three members from Burbank and three members from Glendale.

Commission staff is recommending, subject to space availability, that the commission authorize short-term storage of goods and supplies collected by nonprofit organizations supporting Armenia relief at the airport. Staff is not proposing that any authority funds be expended, and participation with such efforts by staff would be on a volunteer basis.

More than 100,000 Armenians have been impacted since the Armenian-occupied republic of Artsakh was attacked in July by Azerbaijan and Turkey. While a recent peace agreement has ended, significant portions of Artsakh are now controlled by Azerbaijan.

Homes, churches, and other cultural landmarks have been destroyed and many individuals have been displaced in the fighting.

Federal law generally requires that revenue generated by a certificated public airport must be used for the airport’s capital or operating costs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) includes this requirement in the grant assurances that are imposed on airport sponsors as a condition of receiving Airport Improvement Program Grant funding. 

With limited exceptions, the use of airport revenues for other purposes is considered “revenue diversion” and can result in enforcement action by the FAA.