TESTIMONY
Warrie Price, Founder and President of the Battery Conservancy on the Environmental and Community Disturbance from Helicopters
2:36:18
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171 sec
Warrie Price, presenting on behalf of the Battery Conservancy, testified about the detrimental impacts of helicopter noise on the historic Battery area of New York, which has been compromised for over 30 years due to 30,000 annual helicopter trips from the nearby downtown Heliport.
- Price highlighted the discord between prioritizing the helicopter business over the well-being of millions who seek serenity, nature, and community within the Battery's 25 acres transformed into a vibrant space.
- The area boasts 44 million annual visitors, perennial gardens, the sea glass carousel, urban farms, and children's play areas, all affected by the constant helicopter noise.
- Price urged the council to pass bills banning non-essential helicopter flights, emphasized the significance of ongoing major climate projects in the area, and concluded by submitting photographs evidencing climate change's impact on the waterfront.
Warrie Price
2:36:18
Is it on thank you.
2:36:19
I'm Maury Price, the founder and president of the battery conservancy.
2:36:23
We've been working under the constant, deafening noise of helicopters for over 30 years.
2:36:30
We've transformed New York's historic battery.
2:36:33
These 25 acres are just a mere 280 meters.
2:36:38
From the downtown Haleport with its perpetual engines that never shut down during their 3 30,000 annual trips.
2:36:48
It is constant.
2:36:50
Yes.
2:36:50
All day noise from 30,000 choppers with its average of 4 passengers.
2:36:55
We're talking about a 120,000 people versus the battery's annual visitorship of 44 million people who pass by, commute through, come to see the statue or take classes at the battery urban farm.
2:37:11
How dare EDC prioritize a detrimental business over a well the well-being of millions of children and adults who desperately need and seek nature, beauty, and a livable community.
2:37:26
We are a 24 7 work community, which began in the early nineties, and continues growing with a vigorous rate of residential conversion today.
2:37:37
The battery conservancy with its partners at New York City Parks and with funding by the New York City Council.
2:37:44
Has created a paradise of 240,000 square feet of perennial gardens, the sea glass carousel, acres of woodland, the Battery Placecape with Showbox Theater, and 2 Urban Farms.
2:37:57
We value the buzz of our dragonflies and the pollinator bees.
2:38:01
And the joyful voices of children at play, all compromised by nonessential chopper noise.
2:38:09
I submit my testimony with a letter from a neighboring school that no longer will use our show box theater for it shakes very in place because of battling constant noise from the heliport.
2:38:22
The most difficult aspect of producing these theatrical things is ambient noise.
2:38:26
And they cannot come any longer.
2:38:29
I plead for the passage of your counsel initiated bills today.
2:38:35
We must we must band all of the nonessential flights.
2:38:41
To talk to EDC, right now in the battery, 2 major climate projects are taking place.
2:38:48
The one along the water's edge is run by EDC.
2:38:51
It's over $200,000,000.
2:38:53
As you'll see from these two photos taken in January 13
Amanda FarÃas
2:38:58
You are 30 seconds over to Okay.
2:39:00
I know you submitted Okay.
2:39:01
Customer.
Warrie Price
2:39:01
And then these photos, I will also submit.
2:39:04
Climate change is now.
2:39:05
Yes.
2:39:06
These breaching of our waterfront happened in January this year.