Dear Petition Signers and Supporters,
We have exciting and positive news! There will be a NYC Council Helicopter Hearing 10 AM & Press Conference 9 AM - Tuesday, April 16!
Come Join Us at the Rally & Press Conference Before Testifying at the Helicopter Bills Hearing!
A rally and press conference will be held at 9am in City Hall Park, just north of the fountain. Join the STCNYNJ Board, elected officials, organizations, and community groups to rally in support of the plethora of helicopter bills and resolutions that will be heard at the hearing. It is important that we have a large group of supporters there – we will have some t-shirts, buttons, and signs for you too! Immediately after the rally we will head to the hearing across the street: Hearing Room Location is 250 Broadway, 16th Floor.
At 10 AM, the NYC Council will hear public testimony on three introduced helicopter bills (two would ban all nonessential fossil fuel-based helicopters from the two City-owned heliports: Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) and E. 34th Street Heliport. This would eliminate the over 30,000 annual tourist helicopter flights and thousands of commuter flights each year!)
The Council will also hear public testimony on three Resolutions: one would support an already introduced NY State bill that if passed would impose a noise tax on nonessential helicopter flights; another calls on the NY Legislature to submit legislation banning nonessential helicopter flights from the W 30th St Heliport; and the third Resolution calls upon the FAA to ban nonessential (tourist and commuter) helicopter flights over NYC.
See here for all the information on the Hearing and all bills & resolutions: https://stopthechopnynj.org/local-legislation/april-16-2024-hearing/
WHY & HOW TO TESTIFY ON APRIL 16:
You must Register in Advance to Testify In Person or Zoom!
Thank you to all who have already registered. We need as many members of the public to testify as possible, ideally in-person or via Zoom.
Stop the Chop NY/NJ plans to testify in person that day, but we need your voices as well! Your story matters and the electeds need to hear from you - and not just from the helicopter industry and their paid lobbyists!
You will have 2 minutes max for verbal testimony (you can send in longer written testimony later). Start with your name and where you live (neighborhood is sufficient). Then share your experiences; suggested topics include: helicopter noise/ vibrations issues at home, at work, in parks, in schools, on the street; environmental concerns about the emissions from these flights; safety and health concerns, etc. The Council would like to hear why you personally support the elimination of these tourist and commuter helicopter flights.
INSTRUCTIONS TO REGISTER TO TESTIFY:
1) Sign up here: https://council.nyc.gov/testify/
The sign up form is towards the bottom of the page.
2) Choose how you will be testifying.
3) Choose if you need accommodation for your testimony (i.e. an interpreter or other specific help).
4) Type your full name (do not let your computer fill this in for you).
5) Type your email (do not let your computer fill this in for you).
6) Add your phone number (if you will be calling in to testify, enter that number here).
7) Select the hearing: Tue, Apr 16 @ 10:00 AM – Committee on Economic Development
8) Type the subject of your testimony (such as, "Supporting NYC Council Bill #26-2024 and resolution #85-2024").
9) Choose "Self" or "Other" for Organization. If "Other," please specify if you are representing a business, non-profit, school, elected rep, etc...
10) Upload your testimony: this applies to written testimony and is not required – you don't need to upload any testimony when registering, but if submitting written testimony, you should submit it no later than 72 hours after the hearing ends via this same form.
11) Hit the blue "Send" bar. If successful you should see at the bottom of the page “Thank you! Your information was received.” This may take 30 seconds to show up at the bottom of the page. (An automatic email confirmation will NOT be sent).
If you have any questions, email hearings@council.nyc.gov or call 212-482-4219
Hope to see you there - whether in person or zoom, and thanks in advance. Let your friends and neighbors know as well!
Thank you,
Melissa Elstein,
Stop the Chop NY/NJ