TESTIMONY
Ken Coughlin, Board Member of Manhattan Community Board 7 and Stop the Chop NY/NJ, on Reducing Nonessential Helicopter Traffic Over New York City
2:34:11
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117 sec
Ken Coughlin testified in support of proposed legislation to restrict or prohibit nonessential helicopter operations at city-owned heliports and reduce tourist and commuter helicopter flights over New York City.
- Coughlin represented Manhattan Community Board 7, covering the Upper West Side from 59th to 110th Streets, and the advocacy group Stop the Chop NY/NJ.
- He cited a significant increase in helicopter noise complaints in the community board district, nearly doubling from 11,000 in 2022 to over 21,000 in 2023.
- He noted tens of thousands of tourist and commuter helicopter flights originating or landing at the two city-owned heliports, matched by an equal number of noise complaints to 311.
- Coughlin presented resolutions passed unanimously by Community Board 7 in 2020 and 2021, calling for efforts to reduce helicopter traffic and end promotion of helicopter tours on the city's marketing website.
- He voiced strong support for the current council bills to end nonessential flights at city heliports and other proposals to reduce or ban tourist and commuter helicopter traffic over the district and city.
Ken Coughlin
2:34:11
Hello.
2:34:12
My name is Kim Coglin, and I'm here to speak on behalf of Manhattan Community Board 7 in support of the bills that are before us to reduce or eliminate nonessential helicopters over New York.
2:34:26
I'm also a board member of Stop the Chop, NY NJ.
2:34:30
Community Board 7 encompasses the Upper West Side of Manhattan from 59 through 110th Streets.
2:34:36
On most days, the loud drone of helicopters passing overhead has become the new normal in our neighborhood.
2:34:43
There these are tourists and commuter flights traveling up and down the Hudson and crossing the district.
2:34:49
Tens of thousands of these flights originate or land at the 2 city owned heliports.
2:34:54
These tens of thousands of flights have been matched by tens of thousands of complaints to 311.
2:35:01
Between 20222023, helicopter noise complaints in our district nearly doubled from 11,000 to more than 21,000.
2:35:10
In January 2020, Community Board 7 voted unanimously to support our elected officials efforts to reduce helicopter traffic in the city, including support for a federal bill that would prohibit nonessential flights within New York City airspace.
2:35:27
1 year later, again, by unanimous vote, We called on the city to stop promoting helicopter flight helicopter sightseeing tours on its marketing website NYC And Company.
2:35:39
This promotion this promotion subsequently ended thanks to the efforts of Gail Brewer when she was former president.
2:35:47
And I'm submitting those CB 7 resolutions here.
2:35:51
Manhattan Community Board 7 strongly supports the current counsel bills to end nonessential flights at the 2 city run heliforts, as well as other proposals and resolutions to reduce our ban tourists and commuter traffic over our district and city.
2:36:07
Thank you.