TESTIMONY
Andrew Rosenthal, Long-Time Upper West Side Resident, on Ineffective Process for Reporting Helicopter Noise Complaints and Lack of Action by the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
2:08:12
·
154 sec
Rosenthal expressed frustration with the lack of action by the EDC and industry to address helicopter noise complaints since 2016.
- He focused on issues with the 311 system for reporting helicopter noise complaints
- The number of 311 complaints does not accurately reflect the severity of the issue due to assumptions about helicopter operations and the ineffective complaint process
- Many New Yorkers stop filing complaints after receiving inadequate responses from the EDC stating the helicopters were operating within limits
- The complaint process has become increasingly difficult with questions most citizens cannot answer
- Rosenthal estimated the actual number of complaints could be 10-100 times higher than reported
- He called on the city council to take action and pass legislation to address the helicopter noise problem
Andrew Rosenthal
2:08:12
My name is Andrew Rosenthal.
2:08:13
I have lived on the Upper West side and happily paid my taxes for over 36 years.
2:08:18
I love New York City.
2:08:21
I would like to thank majority leader in committee chair, Farriers, for holding this hearing and being a champion of everyday New Yorkers.
2:08:28
Unfortunately, despite promises by the EDC And Industry to make things better, They have done nothing since 2016 to make life better for New Yorkers.
2:08:38
Today, I would like to focus on 311 helicopter noise complaints.
2:08:42
This picture and they took it away from me downstairs, but I think we've covered the the volume of 301 complaints and the escalation of those.
2:08:51
I had a chart here.
2:08:52
Tells an important story, but a very incomplete one.
2:08:55
What it doesn't show is that the problem is much bigger than the data even shows.
2:09:00
When many, maybe most New Yorkers see a helicopter in the sky, they assume it's NYPD or news, and therefore don't think of complaining.
2:09:09
If they did, the charts, the numbers would be much more.
2:09:13
It does not accurately reflect the misery in the city because Same people stop using 311 a few months after they start because they're no results.
2:09:23
Unlike a pothole complaint or even category other categories of noise complaints, where the NYPD shows up, nothing happens when citizens file noise complaints in 311.
2:09:33
Instead, they will get a reply from the EDC saying either this helicopter is not within its jurisdiction or to The New York City EDC determined that the helicopter tour operator was operating within the limits of the New York City helicopter sightseeing plan.
2:09:49
I have received both of these 100% inaccurate responses in the past month despite submitting screenshots documenting that the tour flights originated at DMH and that the flights passed directly over Parkland in violation of the 2016 agreement.
2:10:06
How many times would any of you make a complaint given these negative responses?
2:10:11
Lastly, I'm wrapping up.
2:10:13
Filing a thermal complaint has been made very difficult over the last 4 years.
2:10:18
There's a gauntlet of questions that 99% of the citizens will be unable to answer such as where the flight originated and whether it's a terrorist flight.
2:10:29
So multiply the numbers that have been reported by 10 or a 100 and you'll get an idea of the real severity.
2:10:35
Unlike many of the issues facing the city council, the helicopter problem we are discussing today can be solved this year if our elected representatives choose to do so.
2:10:44
Please pass in 26.
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Bill Thomas, Board Member of Stop the Chop NY/NJ on Banning Non-Essential Helicopter Flights Over New York City
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Melissa Elstein, Board Member of Stop the Chop NY And NJ and the West Eighties Neighborhood Association, on the Disruptive Impact of Helicopter Noise and Tourism Flights Over New York City