HELICOPTER RULES DISAPPOINT
When the city’s Economic Development Corporation announced new regulations for sight-seeing helicopter tours, president Seth Pinsky said the rules balance “both quality of life needs and our important tourist industry.” Short tour flights that last several minutes have been eliminated and there is a ban on sightseeing helicopter tours over Central Park.
But while the entire borough of Brooklyn was graced with a full ban on sightseeing tours, Upper West Side residents are still subject to helicopter noise.
Operators can fly over the center of the Hudson River to West 79th Street, then turn to fly south, center-west of the river. The flights will be at 1,500 feet or above to mitigate noise.
“[People] picnicking, strolling, walking dogs—they’re being impacted by helicopter flights that are doing nothing more than generating money for helicopter tours,” said John Jeannopoulos, an Upper West Sider who became concerned with the increase of these flights.
But forcing the helicopter operators to fly higher should ease noise problems, according to Robert Grotell, special advisor to trade organization Eastern Region Helicopter Council.
“Altitude is by far the best noise mitigation,” Grotell said. “We’re flying twice as high.”
If pilots are flying too low or breaking the regulations, West Side residents are encouraged to call the Helicopter Council’s toll-free complaint number at 1-800-319-7410 in addition to 311.
Correction added. It is the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
NEW DRILLING RULES ANNOUNCED
New regulations announced April 23 were designed to end natural gas drilling near New York City’s drinking water source.
But the rules have sparked a backlash among environmental advocates, who claim that the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) missed an opportunity to ban drilling near the city’s water supply altogether. Read more
Park Vending Proposal
To the Editor:
It doesn’t appear to me that the effort to enhance the view and flow in parks impinges on the rights of the artist (“Artists Paint Bad Picture of Proposed Park Rules,” April 8). It is not an effort to eliminate them from the park, but rather to organize them into areas that will be available to visitors without jamming the walkways or interfering with the beauty of the park. I also hope they will control the wholesale buying of objects and photos that are retailed by vendors who are not artists. Read more
Artists Paint Bad Picture of Proposed Park Rules
Touching off another First Amendment fight with New York’s street artists, the city has proposed a stricter permit system governing where art can be sold in some public parks.
In crowded vending hotspots in Manhattan, including Columbus Circle and Central Park South, the Parks Department wants art vendors to set up shop only in designated areas. Read more
