Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Snow Storm Update - 12/17/2020 - Shuttle Van Service

Starting about 0300 TSA LGA will have two shuttle vans making pickups and drop offs at the following locations:

 

Manhattan: 125th Street/ Lexington Avenue & 125 Street/Lenox Avenue

Queens: 74 Street/ Roosevelt Avenue

 

Personnel can make it to any of these locations through the MTA Subway System.

 

 

Look for the TSA Government Vans. This schedule is subject to change based on use and weather conditions. Keep an eye out on the TSANews App, Facebook Page and Blog for updated information.

TSA LGA/HPN/ISP/SWF Weather Related Sites for updated information

There are numerous ways to get information on TSA LGA

 

TSA NEWS (see TSA master website for instructions on how to load on your phone and set it for specific airports)

Facebook – Look For TSA LGA Emergency Statuspage

The Blog - http://tsalgaemergencystatus.blogspot.com/

 

All three will be updated as soon as possible with the latest information available. Keep an eye on all of these for information such as start times and other information related to the weather

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Snow Storm Update for 12/16/2020:

All personnel are to report as scheduled. Admin staff are to telework. Keep watching page for updates. 

COVID Test Site - Reduced Hours due to Winter Weather Storm

On behalf of New York City Health + Hospital Test & Trace Corps, please see the below message.
 
In response to tomorrow’s winter weather storm, The LaGuardia COVID testing facility, in the Terminal B Garage, will be CLOSING at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.  They will reopen on Thursday, December 17th at 12:00 PM.  Normal testing operations will resume at 9:00 AM on Friday, December 18, 2020.

Friday, December 11, 2020

Metro Airport News Report on Team LGA

https://metroairportnews.com/tsa-team-at-laguardia-airport-earns-dhs-secretarys-award-for-pandemic-heroism/?mc_cid=622130aaf4&mc_eid=1e88764442

FSD Weekly Update

DATE:      December 10, 2020

TO:           All Personnel: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF

FROM:     Robert A. Duffy, Federal Security Director: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF

SUBJECT: Weekly Update

 

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all of you in recognition of LGA receiving the DHS Secretary’s COVID-19 Response Award yesterday.  This award is in recognition to all of you for contributing to our response to the current pandemic.  

As we all know, New York was in the epicenter of this pandemic when it first struck the United States at the start of this year.  As the pandemic gained momentum and spread across the region, schools and businesses began closing in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.  Most people also stopped traveling which caused a significant decrease in air travel.  At LGA we saw passenger volumes on some days drop to below 800 passengers.  HPN closed to all commercial flight operations in the spring and again in the late summer/early fall.  SWF saw all airlines except Allegiant leave, and Allegiant is still only flying from SWF four days a week.  ISP also saw significant decreases in flights and passenger volume.  

To compound the problem at LGA, the MTA closed all subway operations from 0100 to 0500 daily in April.  That restriction is still in effect today and will remain so for the foreseeable future.  That subway closure still has an impact on our first shift getting to work.  At the peak, LGA had 514 people out of work due to positive test results, required quarantine from exposure and people with high risk conditions.  

In response to this challenge, all of you adapted to the changes in our lives and continued to carry-on with the TSA mission every day.  Whenever a commercial flight was scheduled to depart from any of our four airports, you were there to ensure no flights were cancelled due to the TSA not being on duty to secure every departing flight.  At the peak of the pandemic, LGA closed Terminals A and D and operated with only three open lanes; two in Terminal B and one in Terminal C.  Our COVID-19 Task Force was created and has performed remarkably in addressing the needs of our workforce by ordering PPE, maintaining ample supplies of disinfecting cleaners, delivering those items to the checkpoints multiple times a day and conducting health and welfare checks on those who were sick with COVID-19, in quarantine or out of work on high risk.  Our officers not only reported to work daily, but some of you also reported to Liberty Airport in Newark (EWR) when most of their officers were out of work.  Those who responded to EWR that week, literally allowed EWR to remain open.  We also provided JFK with much needed PPE when their supply ran low and their supply chain was slow to respond to their needs.  

While we received recognition for our efforts yesterday, that effort which started last winter still continues today.  Your selfless actions in dedication to the TSA mission, your oath to the Nation and your care for the traveling public Is truly inspiring.  Many of you have never missed a day of work during this dangerous time.  Some of you have persevered through personal losses caused by the pandemic, and continue to carry out your duties every day through sheer heart and fortitude.  Your teamwork has been outstanding and that includes airports helping other airports to cover staffing needs.  Some of you have even taken your “Can-do” spirit and put it to use off-duty in order to help other people in need of food and other assistance.  

While the award stated LGA, make no mistake that this is a team award to everyone at LGA, ISP, HPN and SWF.  You all earned this and should be proud of yourselves.  Thank you very much for all you have done and continue to do every day.  I am very proud of all of you, and it is a privilege for me to lead all of you.

Respectfully,

Bob Duffy      

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

LGA Wins COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism Award

Date: December 9, 2020
To: All TSA Employees
 
From: David P. Pekoske
Administrator
 
Subject:
100 – DHS Secretary’s Awards – TSA Employee Winners

Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf announced the DHS Secretary’s Awards winners.
 
Please join me in congratulating the distinguished men and women of TSA who DHS identified for their extraordinary accomplishments. Selection for a DHS Secretary’s Award is a remarkable achievement, and I am incredibly proud these employees have been recognized for a job well done, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made 2020 a very challenging year for all of us.
 
COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism
·         Team LaGuardia, Security Operations, LaGuardia Airport, New York

TSA Team LaGuardia displayed uncommon bravery and dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic that crippled New York City. Despite the initial lack of adequate personal protective equipment, dangerous commuting conditions, and a healthcare system paralyzed by the virus, Team LaGuardia helped New York's top domestic airport, located at the nation's pandemic epicenter, remain open and operationally efficient.
 
Meritorious Service Silver Medal
·         John Beattie, Executive Director of Intelligence, TSA Headquarters
 
Under John’s leadership, TSA enhanced its intelligence capabilities, creating an Indications and Warning Intelligence Watch system equipped with the latest technology to detect transportation threats worldwide and alert stakeholders in real time. He implemented analytic tradecraft training, allowing TSA to publish reports to intelligence community standards, and formed TSA's Aviation Domain Intelligence Integration & Analysis Cell, ensuring airline stakeholders receive daily intelligence updates to increase threat awareness.
 
Exemplary Service
·         Maria Franco, Program Assistant, Federal Air Marshal Service, West Orange, New Jersey
 
Due to a staffing shortage of Program Assistants (PA), Maria took on additional flying squads, assisting five flying and three ground-based squads. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria went into the office to complete numerous administrative tasks. She also supported FAMs with scheduling their medical and hearing appointments and was selected for the TSA Rising Leader Development Program. Maria serves as a mentor for new PAs and is the unofficial team leader for the section. 

·         Rashur Singh, Training Instructor, TSA Academy, Glynco, Georgia
 
Rashur responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by immediately transitioning in-person classes to a new virtual platform. This ensured that Phase II of TSO-Basic Training Program safely continued without delay and guaranteed a steady stream of new TSOs to airports. Without this constant supply of certified TSOs, air travel may have been seriously impacted nationwide.
 
Valor
·         Garryck Hampton, Senior Federal Air Marshal, Federal Air Marshal Service, San Francisco, California
 
On February 22, 2020, Garryck raced into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean to rescue two people whose kayak flipped. When Garryck reached the couple, they were hanging onto their upside down kayak and due to fatigue were unable to reboard their watercraft. After another kayaker arrived, Garryck battled the strong winds and currents for a mile to get back to the beach and alert 911 and the U.S. Coast Guard. His quick, decisive and selfless actions helped save the couple’s lives.
 
It is my privilege to serve alongside each and every one of you as we work together to secure our nation’s transportation systems.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

LGA COVID-19 TESTING SITE TO OFFER RAPID TESTING

Starting Thursday, December 10, 2020, NYC Health + Hospitals’ Test + Trace Corps, in partnership with LaGuardia Airport, is expanding their on-site testing capabilities and will now offer COVID-19 rapid testing at their walk-up location on the first floor of the Terminal B Garage.

With this change, all patients will now receive two tests: (1) a Point-of-Care rapid test and (2) a standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, necessary for results validation. Rapid test results will be processed on-site, and patients can wait for results at the testing location. They will be informed of their results before they leave the testing facility (note: patients may elect to opt out of the rapid test and only receive the PCR test). 

As a reminder, this testing is open to all NYC residents, airport employees and visitors. No appointments are needed, and parking is available for free to all test site patients on the first floor of the garage. The site is operating 7 days a week from 9 am – 7 pm, and tests are administered at no-cost to the patient: however, those with insurance will be asked to provide that information, with no additional co-pay or co-insurance costs. For more information, visit www.testandtrace.nyc.

Friday, December 4, 2020

UNIFORM ALLOTMENT

There are numerous Officers that have not used their uniform allotment ($450) in full or at all for this FY.  There are only a few months left to use the allotment or they will lose it.

Thank you.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Updated W&S and Training Cancellation For Holiday Period

ALLCON, Briefing Item

 

Due to increased volume and operational needs, LaGuardia will cancel all scheduled Weather & Safety leave during the holiday period. 

 

Friday, December 18, 2020 through Saturday, January 2, 2020. 

 

All employees scheduled on W&S during that time will be expected to report to duty unless they are on a normal RDO. Thank you for your cooperation.


This is an update on limited or cancelled training during the upcoming holiday period.  Please brief your respective staff.  

 

Cancelled from December 18, 2020 through December 25, 2020, & January 1, 2021.  

Limited from December, 26, 2020 through December 31, 2020, & January 2, 2021.  (OLC & NTP Only)

 

Janine M. Ganas

SSOO - Scheduling