REMARKS
Council Member Lincoln Restler's opening statements on helicopter noise and regulation
0:06:20
·
124 sec
Council Member Lincoln Restler addresses disruptive helicopter noise impacting his district's quality of life.
- Restler introduces legislation (Intro 70) aimed at ending non-essential helicopter travel over NYC
- Constituents complain about inability to enjoy public spaces due to excessive helicopter noise
- He criticizes use of taxpayer resources supporting pollution from tourist and private helicopter flights
- Restler seeks positive feedback on helicopter regulation bills from economic development officials
Lincoln Restler
0:06:20
Thank you so much, madam, majority leader and chair.
0:06:24
I really wanna just thank you for your leadership.
0:06:28
On this issue for holding this hearing today.
0:06:31
When I first introduced a bill about helicopters, early in our first term, you were our 1st co prime sponsor and have been just a relentless champion.
0:06:43
And we're really to have you in this role and leading in this really powerful way.
0:06:49
I will tell you, walking around the streets of the 33rd council district, just on the other side of the bridge in Brooklyn, I hear from neighbors more about how angry and frustrated, they are about helicopter noise than almost any other issue.
0:07:06
And people are just at their wit's end.
0:07:08
It's like when they go out to Brooklyn Bridge Park, they can't have a conversation with the person walking next to them because the helicopter noise is too loud.
0:07:13
They don't wanna be on the roof.
0:07:15
They don't wanna be in their backyard.
0:07:16
They don't wanna even be sitting on their stupid because the intensity of the helicopter noise, and it's city owned telepaths.
0:07:23
And we've introduced intro 70 because we want to end non essential helicopter travel.
0:07:29
We don't want tourist flights hanging out over our neighborhood just spewing fossil fuels into our community for minutes on end.
0:07:37
We don't want wealthy the wealthiest of the wealthy getting on helicopter rides to JFK or the Hampton's instead of taking public transport or cars like the rest of us.
0:07:47
It doesn't make any sense why our taxpayer dollars are supporting these telepads for a modest industry, creating a modest number of jobs at huge negative impacts from a noise pollution and air pollution standpoint.
0:08:02
And so I really do hope that we're going to hear some positive things from EDC today.
0:08:08
I hope maybe even some warmth to intro 70 and other pieces of legislation that that my colleagues have introduced because the status quo is totally unacceptable.
0:08:17
And we have to do better in reigning in this industry that is causing havoc and harm in our neighborhoods each and every day.
0:08:23
Thank you very much.