Page 3 - qt edition #20

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 3

Reps. Maloney, Nadler, And Velazquez Senator James Sanders Jr. Invites You to
Announce Legislation to Substantially Reduce Join His Southeast Queens 100k

Non-Essential Helicopter Flights Over NYC Community Tree Project

(Continued from page 2) you are as happy as we are about
The Helicopter Safety and Noise New York City is on the rise. That life across our city – and maybe this meaningful project, and we
Management Act addresses safe- is why along with Representatives even save lives. In Albany, we are coming up with a community look forward to sharing more
ty and noise pollution concerns Nadler and Velazquez, I am intro- trying to pass similar legislation to survey, and our community will with you soon. Will you join us?
caused by non-essential helicop- ducing the Helicopter Safety and approach this issue from all levels let us know where to plant trees. Take our survey here: https://bit.
ter flights Noise Management Act, which of government,” said State Senator This will further help to unify our ly/3yKlpoT
will crack down on non-essential Brad Hoylman. district this Spring. For further details please call
Representatives Carolyn B. helicopter flights. To put it simply, “I commend Representatives This project will indeed be 718-327-7017 or email aoneill@
Maloney (NY-12), Jerrold Nadler New Yorkers are being inundated Maloney, Nadler, and Velázquez a community effort, with help, nysenate.gov
(NY-10), and Nydia Velazquez with helicopter noise, and it is for their continued advocacy for guidance, and input from our Thank you for your consider-
(NY-7) joined at the 34th Street negatively affecting their qual- New York residents who are ex- office and NYC Parks! We hope ation of this tree planting project.
Heliport to introduce their Heli- ity of life, and their physical and periencing worsening helicopter
copter Safety and Noise Manage- psychological health, which is why noise. Helicopter-related noise Gillibrand Statement on House
ment Act. They were joined in I am determined to fix this with complaints to 311 have gone up
support by Senator Brad Hoyl- legislation,” said Rep. Maloney. in New York City over 2300% in Intelligence Committee Hearing on
man, Manhattan Borough Presi- “For decades, New Yorkers have the last five years, and the vast Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
dent Mark Levine, Assemblyman been plagued by excess helicopter majority of complaints come from
Dick Gottfried, City Council- noise and have had their lives Manhattan. The proposed bill is
member Gale Brewer, and Stop put in danger by non-essential a smart approach modeled after U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand the National Defense Authoriza-
the Chop NY/NJ. flights,” said Congressman Jerrold the Air Tour Management Plan issued the following statement on tion Act made it clear that the
The Helicopter Safety and Noise Nadler. “Despite numerous re- legislation from 2000 that has the House Intelligence Commit- Department of Defense and other
Management Act would create a quests by my colleagues and I, the improved protections for National tee hearing on unidentified aerial agencies must urgently approach
commission comprised of the Ad- FAA has refused to sufficiently Parks from helicopter-related phenomena: this issue in a broad manner
ministrator of the Federal Aviation act to keep our skies and our city noise,” said Council Member Gale “We are grateful to the House and consider all origins of UAP,
Administration (FAA), members safe. The Helicopter Safety and A. Brewer (D-06). Intelligence Committee, espe- known or unknown. The level
of the local and state government, Noise Management Act will right “Stop the Chop NY/NJ is a cially subcommittee Chairman of bipartisan interest from the
and helicopter noise and safety this wrong. This bill will force the grassroots nonprofit coalition or- Carson and Ranking Member national security committees in
advocates who are negatively im- FAA to work with local officials ganization with a mission to ban Crawford, for hosting today’s Congress -- as well as from the
pacted by helicopter noise. This and advocates to create a long- nonessential (tourist and commut- hearing on unidentified aerial American people -- make it clear
commission would then develop a overdue plan to cut down on non- er/charter helicopters) from NY’s phenomena. Public congres- that the Department cannot delay
helicopter usage management plan essential flights, which will make metropolitan airspace. We also sional interest in this issue will in staffing the NDAA-established
to substantially reduce the number our city safer and greatly reduce seek to close the local heliports contribute toward countering the office, developing a science plan,
of non-essential civil rotorcraft noise pollution. For too long, New to this nonessential helicopter stigma faced by service members and integrating already existing
that can operate at any time. Yorkers have been asking for relief traffic. Just as we had the previ- and others in reporting their own data to properly investigate these
Between October 2019 and from the negative safety, health, ous opportunities to support “The encounters with UAP, thereby phenomena. Our national secu-
October 2020, complaints about and environmental impacts of Improving Helicopter Safety Act” improving our own data collec- rity demands that the Department
helicopter noise in New York City non-essential helicopter flights. introduced by Congressmembers tion to help resolve this national move on this issue with haste
increased 130%. According to the It is time for the FAA to deliver. Carolyn B. Maloney, Jerry Nadler security issue. and maintain transparency with
city’s 311 hotline, through the end I am proud to be leading this bill and Nydia Velazquez, we thank The language we secured in Congress.”
of September 2021, New York City alongside Congresswoman Malo- our Congressional Representa-
received more than 17,000 calls ney, and I thank her for her critical tives for the opportunity to present Rep. Gregory Meeks Statement on The
about helicopter noise, eclipsing partnership.” at this press conference for the in-
the helicopter-noise complaints “Helicopter noise is not just troduction of their additional, new Rockaway Beach Closures
made in 2019 and in 2020. And annoying – it could be deadly. A federal helicopter bill. It is time
last year, the FAA released its new study from Rutgers Medical we end the Wild West airspace Congressman Gregory W. and businesses in the Rockaways
first noise survey in almost thirty School found that noise pollution created by the helicopter menace Meeks released a statement re- to address erosion issues. The
years, which found that almost from transportation causes 5% of over the NYC metro area and for garding the closure of several resiliency of the peninsula’s in-
two-thirds of people were “highly New Jersey heart attacks. If that is the FAA to listen to the harmed beaches on the Rockaway penin- frastructure, residents’ concerns,
annoyed” by aircraft noise, which the case, I cannot imagine the rate communities and enact significant sula. Congressman Meeks stated: and calls from small businesses
was about five times higher than in NYC. I am thrilled that Con- restrictions or a ban. We thank “The plans to extend Rockaway are all extremely important. I’m
what was reported in 1992. gresswoman Maloney and Con- our NY Congressmembers for Beach closures through July pleased that in working with the
“Of all the issues I hear about gressman Nadler are announcing their leadership in continuing to are extremely concerning. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
from my constituents, helicopter The Helicopter Safety and Noise fight for safer, cleaner and more COVID-19 pandemic has dealt we were able to provide an alter-
noise is one of the most common. Management Act, which will peaceful skies above NYC,” said a tremendous financial burden native plan for the summer beach
Unfortunately, helicopter noise in substantially improve quality of Stop the Chop NY/NJ. on local businesses and many closures. It is my hope that the
of the small businesses on the New York City Parks Department
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar Partners With Mount Sinai Rockaway peninsula rely on the will reconsider the alternative
Health System For Free Mammograms at District Office summer months for the bulk of plan provided by the Army Corps
their annual revenue. However, it and constructively work toward
is imperative that the construction providing a solution that addresses
Screening Day Continues The Assemblywoman has change that situation and expand causing these closures is com- the entire Rockaway community’s
Assemblywoman’s Work to Pro- focused on increasing healthcare access. pleted for the safety of residents concerns,” said Meeks.
vide Accessible Healthcare for access to her constituents, as her Participants thanked Assembly- HPD And FDNY Launch Fire Safety
Her Constituents district is underserved when it woman Rajkumar for her contin-
comes to healthcare. She recently ued support of the community’s Education Campaign
Recently, Assemblywoman brought doctors to her office to health.
Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) conduct free health screenings for “With the pandemic going The New York City Depart- The coordinated approach
hosted a Mammogram Screening her constituents. She was a leader on, it was easy to forget about ment of Housing Preservation and delivers on a commitment made
Day, a free event by the Assembly- in connecting her constituents self-care,” said Xiomara Brito. Development (HPD) and the Fire by Mayor Eric Adams in March
woman in partnership with the with doctors during the days of “But then I received a message Department of the City of New to strengthen the City’s fire safety
Mount Sinai Health System. At the early pandemic, and made from Assemblywoman Rajkumar York (FDNY) joined together at enforcement and outreach efforts
the event, community members sure the health counsel was avail- reminding me to get my mammo- the Joyce Kilmer Park near Yan- in the wake of the tragic Twin
received state-of-the-art 3D mam- able in multiple languages to meet gram. It is so great to know I have kee Stadium in the Bronx today to Parks apartment fire in The Bronx
mograms from the Mount Sinai the needs of her district which is a representative looking out for launch a citywide fire safety cam- in January. Since the executive
Hospital at the Assemblywoman’s 72% immigrant. Her office also my health. This is something that paign titled “Keeping Homes Fire order was signed, HPD and FDNY
office. led in securing vaccination ap- could save my life, and because of Safe,” to educate New Yorkers on have partnered on the public fire
“We loved teaming up once pointments for constituents when the Assemblywoman not only did six key fire safety recommenda- safety campaign while working
again with Assemblywoman those appointments were hard to I get one but I got one for free.” tions for residents and property to increase interagency coordina-
Rajkumar,” said Dr. Laurie Mar- secure. Finally, her office has “Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s owners. At the event, FDNY and tion and information sharing to
golies, Professor of Radiology been a constant hub for COVID office is like a hospital for the HPD outreach staff handed out prevent fires.
and Director of Breast Imaging at testing during the pandemic and community,” said Rhonda Campo. new pamphlets with fire safety The fire safety outreach plan
Mount Sinai Health System. “She a place to get necessary PPE. “She helped us schedule vaccine tips and spoke with New Yorkers includes fire safety education at
recognizes that routine mam- Breast cancer is the most appointments in the thick of the about the importance of self- more than 20 public events already
mograms are an essential part of common cancer among women pandemic when they were scarce. closing doors and smoke detec- planned throughout the city, and
women’s healthcare, and wants in Queens, and early detection She has always offered healthcare tors, among other important fire that number continues to grow as
all her constituents to live their can save lives. 20% of women right from her office, having doc- safety tips. The City expects to the agencies partner with elected
healthiest lives. They are fortunate in the borough eligible for mam- tors provide free health services reach hundreds of thousands of officials, other agencies, and local
to have the Assemblywoman on mograms do not receive one. The New Yorkers through the fire
their side.” Assemblywoman is working to (Continued on page 9) safety campaign. (Continued on page 4)