TESTIMONY
John Ost, South Street Seaport Resident, on the Excessive Helicopter Noise and Its Impacts on Lower Manhattan Residents
3:17:27
·
120 sec
John Ost provides testimony on the disturbance caused by excessive helicopter noise and other noise sources in the South Street Seaport area of Lower Manhattan.
- Ost serves on the board of the 1,600-unit Southbridge Towers cooperative located near the 1,900-unit Smith Houses NYCHA complex.
- He highlights noise from sirens, helicopters, and emergency vehicle horns as a major issue, especially for residents who survived the 9/11 attacks.
- Ost recounts witnessing an NYPD helicopter flying at eye level near his 24th-floor residence, noting the high costs and pollution from such operations.
- He expresses appreciation for the council's legislative efforts to address excessive helicopter noise.
John Ost
3:17:27
Good afternoon.
3:17:28
My name is John Oost, and I see noise rates high on the number of complaints to the city's 311 complaint line.
3:17:36
I have served on the board of directors of Southbridge Towers, a 1600 unit housing cooperative with almost 5000 residents.
3:17:44
Located in the South Street Seaport Area.
3:17:47
Diagonally Across from us is Smith Houses, a 1900 unit Nietcha housing complex with almost 6000 residents.
3:17:56
As you can imagine, noise is high on our priority list, especially sirens, whippewons, and helicopters.
3:18:03
Many of us survived the 911 World Trade Center bombing when helicopters flew overhead constantly.
3:18:10
So helicopters present a very stressful reminder of the past.
3:18:15
I avoid going to the Seaport.
3:18:18
And over on the west side of Manhattan, I also avoid as the noise is just too disruptive.
3:18:23
As I was preparing for this hearing on April 9th at 9:20 AM, an NY hemp PD helicopter flying over to Brooklyn Bridge near South Street, Seaport.
3:18:36
And since I live on the 24th 27th Floor, I noticed that the helicopter was at eye level, way too low for those walking in the street.
3:18:44
And NYPD helicopters burn fuel at the rate of $4460 per hour, as well as discharge air pollution.
3:18:54
Ninety aircraft regularly fly NYPD aircraft regularly fly over and hover over both of our developments, both Smith, and South Southbridge.
3:19:04
In addition to the very unpleasantness helicopter calls, brings us We also have the emergency vehicle horns.
3:19:13
So we're constantly being disturbed in Lower Manhattan.
3:19:16
I and my residents in Southbridge Towers greatly appreciate the council taking these particular legislative moves.
3:19:26
Thank you.