By Carol Tannenhauser
On Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have allowed New Yorkers and the New York State Attorney General to sue non New York City-based sightseeing helicopter companies who make “an unreasonable level of sustained noise at ground level from a helicopter.” It also would have banned non-essential flights from the West 30th Street heliport.
The bill was introduced by UWS State Senator Brad Hoylman and others in 2021, in response to complaints about the growing number and noise of commuter and tourist flights that leave from the 30th Street heliport to speed or hover over photogenic spots around Manhattan, notably, Central Park. [A helicopter disrupted performances of Shakespeare in the Park last year.]
NY Gov. Hochul vetoed a bill tonight that would have banned non-essential helicopter traffic from Hudson River Park’s heliport and allowed citizens to sue for excess helicopter noise. pic.twitter.com/GAR74YrQje
— Jon Campbell (@JonCampbellNY) December 16, 2022
Hochul said she vetoed the bill because the helicopters fall under federal, not state jurisdiction. In a note accompanying the veto, she wrote: “Recent federal case law makes clear that non-federal actors must carefully consider how state and local restrictions interact with federal laws governing aviation and must be attentive to federally mandated processes for enacting policy in this area. Certain elements of this legislation run counter to the federal scheme regulating New York’s airports and airspace. Therefore, I am constrained to veto this bill.”
In a statement, Hoylman expressed frustration. “There’s no reason that there should be a heliport in a park, which causes a great deal of noise and disturbance and is unnecessary,” he said. “The millionaires and billionaires can take the Long Island Rail Road like the rest of us.”
Not all of the rest of us. Gothamist (and other sources) reported that “Hochul often uses the West 30th Street helipad, as well as one on the East River on East 34th Street, when coming and going from New York City, schedules from the first half of the year show.”
In the new legislative session, Hoylman said he will be “introducing legislation to amend the Hudson River Park Act to close the West 30th Street heliport in the Hudson River Park.”
Correction: The bill would not have closed the 30th Street heliport. That was an older version. It would have banned non-essential flights from using it. Thanks to Melissa Elstein, of Stop the Chop, for the clarification.
Someone convinced me to pinch my nose shut and vote for (IMO corrupt) Hochul. Never again. It is clear she doesn’t represent the people and is busy helping special interests. So shameful. And Cuomo was run out on a rail.
Zeldin certainly wasn’t signing this either… I remain optimistic for Hochul’s term
But voters expected her to sign it
Hochul is a hack. So disappointing,
I’d like to see Gov. Hochul take the LIRR. Those helicopters can ruin a person’s day-to-day life. anything to make New York even a bit quieter would be welcome.
Went to Central Park for some quiet time. Helicopter hovering for 15 minutes. Dodged three e-bikes on the pedestrian path two dogs off. Lease. City is getting more unlivable
That Hochul (Hokum) is a tool of special interests has been clear from the beginning. Good for Holman, hope we can get rid of the West 30th heliport at least.
Shame on Governor Hochul for putting her interests over those of the people who live and work in these areas.
Why not ‘line-item veto’ the parts that infringed on Federal jurisdiction and not the other parts?
Meh. There are much more important things to worry about, spend time on, and commit resources to, imo. I hear helicopters from time to time but never even thought about this being an issue until I read this article. And I’ve been looking forward to trying out Blade to JFK them next time I’m traveling with only a carry on- works out to not much more than an Uber from the UWS!
You clearly do not live in an area which is affected by this scourge. If you did, you’d notice them and be pretty upset. Please don’t take a Blade and make people miserable. The subway and LIRR go out to JFK….I use EWR and NJ Transit works just fine. Thank you!
Oh please. Let people live their lives. I’m also looking forward to trying Blade. In case you haven’t noticed, the subways are disgusting.
“Oh please. Let people live their lives” What a bizarre response to someone merely expressing the desire for “Lala” to see things from other residences perspective. I too live in an area where the helicopters loudly hover nonstop over tourist attractions and it can sound like there is an emergency happening due to the sheer volume of them. Try to use some tact next time in your response. Petty isn’t a good look on anyone.
I am not surprised, but very disappointed in the veto of this bill and support Hoylman’s efforts to introduce legislation that would close the W. 30th St. heliport. In the summer when I am on my terrace I sometimes feel like I’m in the DMZ. I’ve made numerous calls to 311 because the tourist helicopters should not be allowed to hover over Central Park and other residential areas. The noise pollution from the ground up is bad enough. We don’t need more from the air down.
Please correct this article. The Stop the Chop bill that was passed by the NY Legislature and vetoed by the Governor never would have closed the West 30th St Heliport. That was in an earlier draft bill that was later edited out! The bill that the Governor vetoed would have allowed New Yorkers and the NY Attorney General to sue non-NYC based sightseeing helicopter companies (so, those from NJ or Westchester) for a noise nuisance cause of action. The West 30 St Heliport is just a commuter/charter heliport (no sightseeing) since a lawsuit agreement. So this bill was about creating a right to sue for helicopter noise. You can see all bills on our website’s Legislation tab.
Stop the Chop NYNJ will continue to fight to end the helicopter plague over NYC and there’s other legislation at the city and federal levels we support.
Sign our petition, volunteer with us, donate to our grassroots all volunteer nonprofit at http://www.stopthechopnynj.org
Thanks, Melissa. Correction has been made!
My impression is that most of the sightseeing helicopters are from NJ, so I’m confused why people are up in arms over the W30th helipad? Commuter helicopters aren’t the problem.
Sightseeing helicopters are more of a problem along the rivers. The commuter helicopters (aka rich people toys) are the ones that disrupt me when I am sitting in Central Park reading a book and a freight train rumbles overhead traveling west to east.
Maybe the FAA can pass rules to give helicopters a minimum altitude when flying within 500 feet of land except while on direct approach for landing.
Yep, and interrupting concerts.
There are actually 30,000 sightseeing helicopter flights allowed every year from NYC’s Downtown Manhattan Heliport. Those flights are allowed to fly up and down the Hudson River and around the NY Harbor – contributing to much noise along the entire west side waterfront. Since 2016, they are banned from Sunday flights. We have members who are negatively affected by the commuter flights on the way to the Hamptons and airports. They fly very low over parts of Brooklyn and are very loud. Those originate from W. 30th St. Also, people who use the Hudson River Park or the recreational path suck in the jet fuel fumes from that heliport. Also there are commuter/ charter flights that use Central Park as an east-west route.
If it’s a federal jurisdiction, then let someone take it to court and let the courts decide if the state has overstepped. But if a bill makes it through the legislature, there should be compelling reasons to veto it. Hers don’t qualify.
Hochul forgets that it was millions of downstate Democrats that kept her in office. They will remember this.
Defending a state law is not free. The feds would get an injunction against enforcement so you’d never even get the benefit of this law before it was overturned. I support the concept, but it’s clownish to pass a bill that is so very likely to be preempted. Let the AG spend her time on more fruitful litigations.
Do you really think she cares about what will happen to her electability in four years? She stumbled into this job and was never discussed as a viable candidate before Cuomo’s departure. I bet she’s elated to get even 5-6 years as Governor.
She could have vetoed it and then taken it up with the Feds.
once again, we voted for this.
I have supported Gov. Hochul, but am unhappy with her response. She could have said she would reach out the Federal govt.
Today, like most others, Upper West Siders and others hear and feel the constant, compounded roar and rumble of helicopters for hours on end – back and forth – all day long. There’s little recourse except abandoning the only refuge you know – your home.
Are the votes there for an override? I understand that almost never happens, but why not?
Yes, in both houses. Constituents should raise hell with their assembly reps & state senators to urge an override. Hochul’s reasoning is intentionally misleading and obfuscates the issue at stake.
It’s hard to imagine Hochul walking today in Riverside Park in the upper 80’s not being horrified at the abuse we suffer.
What a disappointment! And a lame excuse for the veto. Various government entities, not just the federal government have responsibility for various altitudes of flight and placement of heliports.. It is complicated, but Hochul should be protecting the rights of the boroughs to environmental safety. The excessive helicopter noise and interference with tv signals and dangerous sky congestion in itself should be enough for her to be concerned about. I voted for her because I thought she was on the right side. She isn’t! How did the helicopter lobby manage to get through to her?
I’m a moderate Dem and the knee-jerk reactions of people around here are embarrassing. Read her rationale. She said it is not her jurisdiction, but it is federal jurisdiction. So I see two possible alternatives:
1. The one everyone seems to be taking – whine about it and blame Hochul.
2. Target efforts at federal officials who have jurisdiction and try to properly bring about change.
It’s really not that challenging. Everyone is constantly looking for something to complain about rather than figuring out the best way to create change. And sometimes that change won’t be as much as you want, but incremental change is still pretty good and is often more likely to get approved than larger change.
She’s wrong that only federal regulations affect helicopter service. She could have signed that legislation–worst case scenario is that the lawsuites don’t work. For another example, she could direct the members she appoints to the board of the Hudson River Park Trust to vote to close the (illegal) heliport there, If those appointed by Mayor Adams also voted that way, presto! Away go all the Blade commuter flights to and from that illegal heliport. So those were flimsy excuses she offered to protect a filthy private industry,
And they would move to New Jersey and still manage to fly over us. That’s what the tourist helicopters did when the City regulated them. They just upped and now take off from NJ and NYC rules no longer apply to them.
The helicopters refuel at all 3 NYC EDC-owned airports. If those close, that kneecaps both the commuter & tourist industry. And the city could replace that income several times over by enforcing traffic laws
What a cop out lame excuse from Hochul. Tbh personally I care a lot more about the chopper bill than the one that bans sales of puppies or kittens.
Is it possible to overide the Governor veto? If yes this should be the next step in the fight. Talk to NYstate legislators . Take the case to Federal branch and the courts.
Brad Hoylman should worry about the mentally ill who need housing or to stay in a hospital so we do not have another Michelle Go tragic story. Or maybe he can worry about the huge increase in drug use on the streets so children and dogs are not picking up used needles. Does anyone care about those things? That’s what I think should be on their desks being written for a Bill. We can worry about the helicopters when we are all safe walking the streets, taking the subways and our dogs aren’t pricked by needles on the ground. It’s called priorities.