TESTIMONY
Susan Lee, Executive Director of the Hudson Classical Theater Company, on the Disruption of Outdoor Performances by Helicopter Noise in Riverside Park
2:45:55
·
117 sec
Susan Lee provides testimony on the significant disturbance caused by helicopter traffic to the Hudson Classical Theater Company's outdoor performances in Riverside Park.
- The theater company offers three free summer productions each year without charging admission.
- The deafening helicopter noise forces the company to halt performances, disrupting shows for approximately 3,000 audience members who attend from across the region.
- During one evening performance, 24 helicopters flew overhead within a 1.5-hour span.
- The nonstop helicopter traffic severely impacts the roughly 100 actors, directors, designers, artists, and production teams working on the shows.
- Lee hopes the city council can address this worsening issue before the company's 21st season in Riverside Park this summer.
Susan Lee
2:45:55
Hello.
2:45:56
My name is Susan Lee.
2:45:58
And I represent Hudson classical theater company.
2:46:02
We are a nonprofit theater company that has performed in Riverside Park for the past 20 years.
2:46:08
We perform on the North patio of the soldiers and sailors monument in Riverside Park on West 89th in Riverside Drive.
2:46:16
We produce 3 full summer productions each running 1 month long in June, July, August.
2:46:22
We offer these plays to the public and don't charge tickets.
2:46:26
As we are an outdoor theater company, the helicopter traffic that crosses overhead over the monument has been a long running problem and seems to be getting worse with every passing year.
2:46:37
The noise is deafening, and we have to stop our show and wait for the helicopters to pass.
2:46:42
One evening, we decided to count the number of helicopters that flew overhead during one of our shows and the number was 24 helicopters.
2:46:52
This is from a Sunday evening from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.
2:46:57
It is extremely difficult to perform with this nonstop helicopter traffic, and it is such a terrible disservice to the roughly 3000 audience members who come to our shows every summer.
2:47:09
They come from all five boroughs, the tri state area, and we often get national and international tourists.
2:47:15
All excited to see an after summer show only it had experience marked by the nonstop disturbance of the helicopters.
2:47:23
There's also huge disturbance to the roughly hundred people who work with us every summer from actors, directors, casting designers, artists, and production teams.
2:47:33
Who worked so hard on every show only to suffer through the increasing noise of the helicopters that disrupt every production.
2:47:41
We sincerely hope something can be done about this helicopter traffic before we begin our 21st season.
2:47:48
Of producing classical theater in Riverside Park this summer.
2:47:51
Thank you for your time.
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Mark Young, Representative of the South Midwood Residence Association, on Helicopter Noise and Environmental Impacts Over Residential Brooklyn Neighborhoods
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Norris Raymaker, Jersey City Resident on the Impact of Nonessential Helicopter Traffic on Quality of Life in the New York City Metropolitan Area
