Dear STCNY/NJ Supporters,
Announcing more great news!
LAST FRIDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING BI-STATE SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL HELICOPTER BILL:
Last Friday, Manhattan Borough President & Helicopter Task Force leader Gale Brewer along with Congressman Jerry Nadler hosted a well-attended press conference along with electeds from NY and NJ - all in support of passing The Improving Helicopter Safety Act introduced by NY Congressmember Carolyn Maloney and Co-Sponsored by Congressmembers Nadler, Velazquez, and Suozzi, that, if passed into law, directs the FAA to ban all nonessential - tourist and commuter - helicopter flights over NYC and the adjacent waterways). Stop the Chop NY/NJ Board members joined our elected representatives from the Federal, State, and City levels as well Manhattan Community Boards 4 and 7 to speak in favor of passing the Federal bill H.R. 1643. At the press conference, MBP Brewer announced a letter in support of this bill had been signed by over 30 NY and NJ electeds and sent to US DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the US EPA Administrator Patrick McDonnell (and cc'd to Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary at the US DOT).
To read this excellent dual-State, multi-elected 5-page letter to the FAA and EPA, please see: https://www.manhattanbp.nyc.gov/helicopter-tf-letter/
Check if your elected representatives have signed on to the letter, and if not, please forward to them urging them to join on as well.
Read the Press Release with statements from electeds as well as Stop The Chop NY/NJ and The Brooklyn Heights Association here:
https://mailchi.mp/manhattanbp/helicopterpr102921?e=6619b330fb
______________________________________________________
NY STATE REPRESENTATIVES HOYLMAN AND GOTTFRIED ANNOUNCE NEW LEGISLATION:
Additionally, NY State representatives Richard Gottfried and Brad Hoylman declared they were introducing legislation to remove the West 30th StreetHeliport from the Hudson River Park. Community Board 4 has been supporting the removal of the heliport from the park, which is sandwiched right between the busy bike / recreational path and the Hudson River. Senator Hoylman additionally announced the introduction of a new law allowing nuisance lawsuits against helicopter companies for their noise pollution, and the prohibition of NYC from contracting with tourist helicopter companies. (Stay tuned for more details on those very positive developments and announcements!).
For a very thorough overview of the press conference, please read this article: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/sutton-place-slash-lenox-hill/sections/government/articles/elected-officials-join-residents-to-call-for-regulation-of-tourist-helicopters
FOR TV and RADIO NEWS REPORTS, WATCH & LISTEN HERE:
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/10/29/new-york-new-jersey-helicopter-noise-pollution-legislation/
https://www.wnyc.org/story/local-lawmakers-want-ban-helicopter-sightseeing-tours-over-new-york-city/
HERE ARE MORE ARTICLES FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE:
https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/helicopters-over-nyc-are-tormenting-residents-new-group-says
https://vegannews.co/chopper-noise-pollution-in-nyc-calls-for-end-of-non-essential-helicopter-flights/26923/
____________________________________________________
Please share this email with your friends and neighbors! Some people still think the constant helicopter noise is caused by emergency services and are not aware that tourists and commuter helicopters are allowed to fly over NYC. Our movement is growing; but we need more volunteers and activists, donations, and petition signers to win! Let's increase our chances of victory - all our hard volunteer work is paying off and we have positive momentum. Please help in any way you can. Thanks!
Best,
Melissa Elstein, STCNY/NJ Board Chair, Secretary & Coalition Organizer
http://www.stopthechopnynj.org
October 29, 2021 Helicopter Task Force Press Conference Hosted by Gale Brewer & Jerry Nadler, Photo by Marc Bussanich