Officials Submit Formal Request for Tourist Copter Ban

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

by Mary Frost (mfrost@brooklyneagle.net), published online 06-02-2011

They Don’t Want These ‘Birds’ to Whirl Anymore

NEW YORK — Officials from both Brooklyn and Manhattan submitted a formal request yesterday to New York City’s Economic Development Corporation for a complete ban on all tourist helicopter flights from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at the foot of Wall Street.

In a joint letter to Seth Pinsky, president of New York City’s Economic Development Corporation, officials said the helicopters caused “serious and detrimental effects” to the quality of life for Manhattan and Brooklyn residents, businesses, and visitors.

“As the weather grows warmer, New Yorkers in Manhattan and Brooklyn are being bombarded once again with the constant drone of tourist helicopters overhead,” said the letter.

It was signed by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan), state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Lower Manhattan/Downtown Brooklyn), Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assemblywoman Joan Millman (D-Brooklyn Heights); and Councilmembers Brad Lander (Park Slope), Steve Levin (Brooklyn Heights), Sara Gonzalez (Red Hook), Margaret Chin (Chinatown) and Gale Brewer (Upper West Side).

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