The airplane is kept aloft based upon airspeed. So, if the airplane heads into the wind, the ground speed of the airplane is reduced by the speed of the wind. The airplane is then moving slower relative to the ground, but is moving at the same airspeed.

So, there is a definite preference to land into the wind.

Most airports have flight patterns that has the airplane do a downwind leg, followed by a 90 degree turn to "base leg" followed by another 90 degree turn to "final leg" and the runway approach.

However, there are noted exceptions and the three airports around NYC certainly have their share of them.