Assemblyman Goldfeder Screams Over Aircraft Noise in Southern Queens and Rockaway

Goldfeder: Legislation will provide residents some much needed peace and quiet from noisy air traffic
Urges Governor Cuomo to support legislation to control plane noise

September 10, 2013

In effort to ease resident’s concerns on growing airplane noise, Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (D-Broad Channel) is urging Governor Cuomo to sign legislation, A07697/S03841, which would require the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey conduct a noise study and hold public meetings in Southern Queens and Rockaway.

“As far back as I can remember growing up in Rockaway, airplanes have always plagued our family and community,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. “We have been through enough after Sandy and deserve to have quiet and peace of mind while sitting in our own home. I strongly urge Governor Cuomo to sign this legislation immediately to mitigate air traffic noise for our hard-working communities.”

The legislation, co-sponsored by Goldfeder and unanimously passed in both houses of the legislator, would require the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to routinely conduct noise studies, as outlined under federal aviation regulations in order to monitor flights and find ways to mitigate the noise levels to better protect residents. Currently, many of the houses adjacent to John F. Kennedy Airport receive a volume over 100 decibels – a level that is nearly twice as high as an acceptable living noise.

"The Broad Channel Civic Association commends Assemblyman Goldfeder for fighting for this critical legislation to assess the dramatic increase in air traffic noise that our community is experiencing!," said Dan Mundy Jr., President of the Broad Channel Civic. "The FAA is now implementing NEXT -GEN technology that will increase tremendously the number of flights in and out of JFK airport at a time when the surrounding communities are already suffering from unacceptable noise pollution. This legislation will allow for the necessary monitoring needed to enable a comprehensive discussion of the impacts that this noise pollution is producing on residents and their families."

Not only is the increased air traffic affecting day-to-day quality of life, but long-term exposure to loud jet engines can have permanent harmful effects on one's hearing, noted Goldfeder in his letter to Cuomo.

"The FAA has significantly increased the number of aircraft flying over our homes," said Ray Gaudio, a concerned resident. "This has negatively impacted our health and quality of life. Assemblyman Goldfeder is helping us in our battles with the FAA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in trying to return a sense of tranquility to our lovely communities."

“We are all expected to be good neighbors and our airports are no different,” said Assemblyman Goldfeder. “I look forward to working with the Port Authority to ensure our families are protected from any long-term harm that air traffic may potentially cause.”

Additionally, this legislation can pave the way to allow the Port Authority to receive the necessary state funding to permanently lower noise levels through soundproofing and insulating resident’s homes and local businesses in the severely impacted areas.

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