4 ms·

For the European and Asian friends, this is because Airports in the United States are almost all still owned and operated by local governments. For the vast maj

For the European and Asian friends, this is because Airports in the United States are almost all still owned and operated by local governments. For the vast majority of these governments, the Airport is easily the most significant slush fund they have to monkey with. For example, the City of Denver, “owns” Denver International Airport, which is in turn both the largest employer in the state of Colorado and the third busiest Airport in the world. Did I mention that it generates all of its own cash? No tax-payer money involved. Which is why they are opening a center for Equity and Diversity in Aviation rather then fixing the escalators (which have their cult following simply because of often they are broken) or having a reasonable rental car facility, or simply renovating bathrooms in the concourses.

icegreentea2 3y ago
The overall disadvantaged business stuff is a requirement for taking federal funding (https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/acr/bus_ent_program https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ac...). How screwy any given implementation becomes is of course, fully at the hands of the local authority, and whatever slush fund silliness they have in mind. From skimming through, it seems like there's an overall very soft 10% "target" in terms of disadvantaged businesses. I think the law literally says that there is a national 10% target, but individual entity (so a single airport for example) are not allowed to take that 10% as a quota or target.
bouncing 3y ago
Maybe it depends on how it’s measured, but I’m not sure about the largest employer claim. I found this list: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Jobs/find-largest-employers.aspx?persist=true&location=CO&ajax=0 https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Jobs/find-largest-empl... Is your count perhaps including all the businesses in the airport?
- InTheArena 3y ago
  Opened in 1995, DEN currently serves 25 different airlines offering non-stop service to over 215 destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia; it was the fourth airport in the U.S. to exceed 200 destinations.[11] The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and is the largest operating base for both Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.[12] With over 35,000 employees, the airport is the largest employer in Colorado. The airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains and within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_International_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_International_Airport (And yes, thats many different companies and businesses - but it's also 3x the size of any company on that list)
ZeroGravitas 3y ago
This comment only seems to apply to the 2nd item, which is about supporting minority owned businesses. It's a long list, and most of it seems fairly standard, a mix of "airport stuff" and "buying a concession in a popular location" stuff.

icegreentea2 3y ago

The overall disadvantaged business stuff is a requirement for taking federal funding (https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/acr/bus_ent_program https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ac...). How screwy any given implementation becomes is of course, fully at the hands of the local authority, and whatever slush fund silliness they have in mind. From skimming through, it seems like there's an overall very soft 10% "target" in terms of disadvantaged businesses. I think the law literally says that there is a national 10% target, but individual entity (so a single airport for example) are not allowed to take that 10% as a quota or target.

bouncing 3y ago

Maybe it depends on how it’s measured, but I’m not sure about the largest employer claim. I found this list: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Jobs/find-largest-employers.aspx?persist=true&location=CO&ajax=0 https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Jobs/find-largest-empl... Is your count perhaps including all the businesses in the airport?

InTheArena 3y ago
Opened in 1995, DEN currently serves 25 different airlines offering non-stop service to over 215 destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia; it was the fourth airport in the U.S. to exceed 200 destinations.[11] The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and is the largest operating base for both Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.[12] With over 35,000 employees, the airport is the largest employer in Colorado. The airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains and within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_International_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_International_Airport (And yes, thats many different companies and businesses - but it's also 3x the size of any company on that list)

ZeroGravitas 3y ago

This comment only seems to apply to the 2nd item, which is about supporting minority owned businesses. It's a long list, and most of it seems fairly standard, a mix of "airport stuff" and "buying a concession in a popular location" stuff.