View from the top. Photo via absolutewade's flickr
Last year, after much protest, new regulations were put into effect regarding helicopters flying over Brooklyn. The move was meant to eliminate 30% of sightseeing helicopters, which most often will fly over DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, and low-flying choppers... which cause brain damage to locals (maybe). Now the Daily News reports that the new regulations weren't good enough (or sightseeing choppers aren't following them), and the war rages on—this time with the Brooklyn Bridge Park architect declaring that the flights are "marring his gleaming waterfront creation." Oh, Brooklyn.
Michael Van Valkenburgh told the paper, "We have started to build a park that everybody seems to like quite a lot at considerable public investment, and the noise is horrendous and disturbing. Not only are they disturbing, but they are ruining the park's "zen-like connection to the openness of the water." Someone should let Van Valkenburgh know that Brooklyn is in New York City.
Officials are now working on enforcing the new regulations, and Senator Squadron says, "anything other than 100% compliance with the tour guidelines is completely unacceptable." But in the end, we're all screwed—last year a new study suggested that New Yorkers "have no place to go" for peace and quiet.
