Councilmember Kennedy Takes Seat On Airport Authority Commission

Councilman John Kennedy has officially taken his seat on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Commission. 

Kennedy was sworn in as a commissioner on Aug. 10. He joins City Councilmember Steve Madison and former Pasadena City College Trustee Ross Selvidge as one of the authority’s three Pasadena representatives.
Kennedy replaces Mayor Terry Tornek, who stepped down on July 20.

The authority, which contains commissioners from the three cities, owns and operates the airport and is a separate government agency created under a joint powers agreement between Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena in 1977. From 1978 to 2003, the airport was named the Burbank–Glendale–Pasadena Airport. In 2017 it was renamed the Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Kennedy has served on numerous boards, commissions, and official bodies, including the Tom Bradley Legacy Foundation at UCLA, the Black Alumni Association Council at USC, the National Finance Committee for the President of the United States, and the National Finance Committee for Joe Biden.

According to its website, the mission of the airport authority is to provide state-of-the-art regional airport facilities and related services which are efficient, safe, convenient, and user-friendly, while being a good neighbor.

A Pasadena native, Kennedy was student body president at Blair High School, and a student senator while at USC. He holds dual degrees from USC in international relations and social science communications, as well as several professional certificates. Kennedy earned his juris doctor degree from Howard University School of Law. 

Kennedy dedicated his life to community service at a young age, having served as the president of the Pasadena Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at the age of 25. He has committed much of his spare time to community organizing and working to support Democratic candidates.