GatewayJFK’s 1st Annual Turkey Drive

Commercial Property Owners, Real Estate Brokers, and Community Leaders gathered at Rockaway Plaza on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, as GatewayJFK Business Improvement District (BID) hosted its inaugural Turkey Drive. In conjunction with local leaders, including Congress Member Gregory Meeks, State Senator James Sanders, Assembly Members Vivian Cook and Khaleel Anderson, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, New York City Speaker Adrienne Adams, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, GatewayJFK’s 1st Annual Turkey Drive marked a momentous occasion for new partnerships, collaboration, and giving.
Executive Director James Johnson, who assumed his role on August 1, 2023, expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s great to know 500 turkeys are equivalent to 500 families being blessed with dinner. This event embodies the vision of GatewayJFK business improvement district, where our goal is not just to enhance the quality of life but to create a community where families thrive together.”

Executive Director James Johnson wants to bring the 3Ps – Purpose, Partnership, and Productivity to GatewayJFK, the Business Improvement District (BID) located directly outside of JFK International Airport, one of the biggest airports in the country with $20 Billion coming into
JFK Redevelopment.

• Purpose: Creating real branding and buzz around the mission statement, letting the community, JFK airport, and elected officials know the purpose and mission of GatewayJFK. Partnership: Emphasizing the importance of true partnership over dictatorship, involving City Agencies, elected officials, JFK redevelopment, port authority, civic associations, and other community-based organizations.
• Productivity: Johnson and his team are dedicated to revitalizing vacant storefronts, enhancing the area’s aesthetics, and ensuring true equity in Southeast Queens, which has lacked essential resources for decades. “We have waited long enough to see results. All eyes are on The Executive Director and his team to get things done with quality of life and bring true equity to the area,” Johnson emphasized.

GatewayJFK aims to enhance the quality of life in the district by recognizing the diverse experiences of all who work, visit, and live within and adjacent to it. The organization encourages district members to work together to strike an appropriate balance between industrial, commercial, and residential interests.