TESTIMONY
Kate Madigan, Government Affairs Coordinator of The Public Theater on Helicopter Noise Disrupting Shakespeare in the Park Performances
2:50:16
·
120 sec
Kate Madigan, representing The Public Theater as its Government Affairs Coordinator, testifies about the disruptive impact of helicopter noise on Shakespeare in the Park performances at the Delacourt Theater in Central Park.
- The increase in helicopter usage and noise directly impacts the quality of life for many New Yorkers attending the free Shakespeare performances.
- After waiting in line for hours, audiences of 1,000 New Yorkers have their experience disrupted by helicopters hovering overhead during the performances.
- Helicopters create more noise when changing direction, maximizing noise pollution over the open-air theater.
- The Public Theater is seeking federal support for a study illuminating the impact of helicopter operations over New York City.
- Madigan supports legislative proposals to restrict non-essential helicopter flights over the city to improve quality of life.
Kate Madigan
2:50:16
Good afternoon.
2:50:17
My name is Kate Madigan from the public theater.
2:50:20
I just wanna know.
2:50:20
It is interesting that the previous panels we're talking about using instruments to measure sound pollution, but they weren't talking about human ears, and that was very interesting to me.
2:50:32
So The increase in a helicopter usage and noise directly impacts the quality of life for many New Yorkers.
2:50:39
Every summer, tens of thousands of New Yorkers experienced this disruption at the Delacourt theater during performances of Free Shakes were in the park.
2:50:47
After having waited hours in line for free tickets, 1000 of New Yorkers settle into their seats to experience free shakes within the park only to have their experience disrupted by helicopters hovering overhead.
2:50:58
Passengers and pilots require air protections.
2:51:00
However, the average citizen isn't prepared to carry around noise canceling, aviation headsets.
2:51:06
Additionally, helicopters make more noise when turning compared to flying straight as the change of direction alters the air forces around the blades.
2:51:14
Therefore, any helicopter that circles around the Open Air Delacore Theater in Central Park during nightly performances maximizes noise pollution aka sound signatures.
2:51:24
The public theater has actively been working on this issue at every level of government.
2:51:28
The organization is currently seeking congressional support for its federal study that would illuminate the impact of helicopter operations over New York City.
2:51:36
Thankfully, congressman Nadalir Saf has listened to our quality of life concerns.
2:51:40
We hope the federal government conducts this study with human ears in order to inform policymakers at the city, state, and federal level to the challenges facing communities.
2:51:50
We welcome the proposal proposals of introductions, 00262770, restricting nonessential helicopter operations over New York City, It is essential to improving the quality of life.
2:52:03
Please reach out to our team with any further questions, support with research points.
2:52:07
Thank you to FIS.
2:52:09
Console members console committee council and staff for your work on this topic.
2:52:15
The public theater appreciates your leadership.
