TESTIMONY
Christine Callister, Gramercy Resident on the Alarming Increase in Helicopter Noise Across Manhattan
3:10:22
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126 sec
Christine Callister, a Gramercy resident, testifies about the significant escalation of helicopter noise across Manhattan over the past four years.
- Over the last four years, helicopter noise across Manhattan has increased at an alarming rate.
- Callister has heard at least 10 helicopter flyovers per day this month, totaling around 150 for the month so far.
- The frequent helicopter flights have negatively impacted her family's quality of life, causing stress, increased blood pressure, and the need to play music to drown out the noise.
- Her eight-year-old daughter recognizes the abnormality and disturbance caused by the excessive helicopter noise.
- Callister cites the NYC Department of Transportation's statement that noise pollution can lead to health consequences like higher blood pressure, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep problems, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Christine Callister
3:10:22
My name is Christine Callister.
3:10:23
I work in Living Gramercy along with my husband and our eight year old daughter.
3:10:28
Over the last 4 years, helicopter noise across Manhattan has increased at an alarming rate prior to 2021.
3:10:35
I felt surprised every time one passed overhead and assumed there was a criminal or news story nearby.
3:10:40
A rare occurrence I heard far less than 1 per day.
3:10:42
So far this month, I've heard at least 10 per day or 150 in total for the month.
3:10:48
Last week, my daughter and I visited Central Park for a picnic lunch in the short time we sat in the grass, 2 different helicopters slowly passed overhead 30 minutes apart.
3:10:57
Yesterday, I took a ride on the Hudson River bike path during which I heard at least 2.
3:11:02
As I sit here riding this, I hear one through my open window.
3:11:05
As early as 7 AM, helicopters criss cross over our apartment.
3:11:09
Each time my shoulders tense up, my blood pressure goes up, I scramble to play music to join up sound the rest of the day is an uphill battle to combat stress.
3:11:17
My family should not have to suffer through this who someone else can gawk down on the city like an exhibition or charter or helicopter for a visit to their vacation home.
3:11:24
There are many emergency or unavoidable noises that New Yorkers endure, including ambulance police and fire sirens, jackhammering, and the ever ending sound of building construct.
3:11:33
On top of that, a symphony of car horns, and yet we're also expected to tolerate nonessential and recreational helicopters overhead.
3:11:40
Today, I asked me your old daughter if she thought the onslaught of helicopters was normal.
3:11:44
She said, of course, it's not normal, mom.
3:11:46
They're so loud.
3:11:47
Yet here I am forced to argue against what is obvious to an eight year old and an obvious breach to every New Yorkers quality of life.
3:11:54
Pull directly from mycdot gov on a page simply entitled noise.
3:11:59
Noise in the community, even at levels that are too low to cause hearing loss, can affect mental and physical health, long term exposure to this type of noise can lead to stress, higher blood pressure, muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep problems.
3:12:11
Those side effects are demonstrable, and in the long term, lead to further health consequences, including an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
3:12:17
I urge everyone who has a say in this matter to think about the health of families like mine who live directly in the crosshairs of persistent rack any non essential helicopter flights and put a stop to them.
