QNE_p003

QC08042016

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com AUGUST 4, 2016 • The Queens Courier 3 NEW DATA SHOWS THAT AIRPLANE NOISE IN FLUSHING SURPASSES FEDERAL LIMITS By Briana Ellis bellis@qns.com/@briinformed New data collected from a sound monitor in Flushing revealed a boost in aircraft noise, which violates regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The data from the sound monitor located on Franklin Avenue was the focus of a July 27 meeting attended by state Senators Toby Ann Stavisky and Joe Addabbo, Councilman Peter Koo, community activist Susan Carroll, Chairman of Community Board 7 Aviation Committee Warren Schrieber, Len Schaier of Quiet Skies, as well as residents and several other community leaders. According to FAA regulations, airplane noise must not exceed the 65 Day/Night Noise Level (DNL), but data from the Flushing sound monitor showed otherwise. The information proved that the noise jumped beyond 65 DNL about a third of the time measured. Out of 92 days, from March through May, plane noise surpassed the FAA limit on 32 occasions. “The issue of plane noise is nothing new to the thousands of families being affected by it every day. Ask anyone living in this neighborhood and I’m sure they will tell you how disruptive plane noise can be,” Stavisky said. “With this data, we now see what we’ve always known: parts of Queens are subjected to higher levels of sound than others. Not only must we ensure the federally set noise threshold is not surpassed, but we must also revisit the maximum DNL allowed. We now know the current threshold of 65 DNL is obsolete. Having been created in the 1970s , it could not take into account the numerous studies that suggest the negative health impact.” Stavisky drafted a letter alongside many of her colleagues in May, urging senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to support methods that would decrease the DNL amount from 65 to 55. Various organizations and agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization and Harvard School of Medicine, supported the request for lower airplane noise. Congresswoman Grace Meng, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, also expressed her disapproval of the disruptive noise levels. “This noise monitor in Flushing was among the noise readers that the Port Authority installed in Queens after I urged the agency to do so,” she said. “The increased DNL readings underscore the problem of excessive aircraft noise over our borough and why we must continue our fight to combat it. I’ve been leading the effort in Congress to do that and this includes initiatives to reduce the noise level standard to 55 DNL. We cannot allow the roaring sounds of airplane noise to disrupt the quality of life in our neighborhoods.” On July 29, state Senator Tony Avella and Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz addressed a letter to the FAA Regional Administrator Carmine Gallo, in reference to the ongoing helicopter noise. Elected officials and community members are continuing to fight this uphill battle of aircraft noise throughout several northeast Queens neighborhoods. Photo by Senator Stavisky’s press office Airplane noise levels are still high in Flushing, reflected in new sound monitor data. Teens break into a Queens firehouse Three teenagers from Queens burglarized the FDNY firehouse in Jackson Heights while firefighters responded to an emergency call early on the morning of Aug. 1. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown is appalled at the actions of these teens. “To many firefighters, the firehouse is a second home. In this case, the defendants are accused of knowingly trespassing that space with the intent of removing property,” said Brown. “More troubling, perhaps, is that they allegedly waited for firefighters to be sent out on a call – risking their lives to rescue people and save property – before breaking in.” The identities of the teens have been revealed. They are Christian Gaguancella, 19, Steven Lopez, 18, both of Corona, and Luis Phunthusuntorn, 17, of Elmhurst. Each of them have been charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal trespass. If convicted, the three boys each face up to seven years in prison. According to the AP press release, a fire truck left the fire house at 81-17 Northern Blvd. with its sirens blaring at about 2 a.m. on Aug. 1. Lopez was seen climbing into a fenced-in area behind the fire house and entered through a secondfloor window, Gaguancella was seen standing on a nearby shed, while Phunthusuntorn stood on the sidewalk to look out for the two. When police showed up, a firefighter was walking Lopez out of the firehouse after finding him trespassing on the second floor of the firehouse. Gaguancella was seen exiting the fenced-in area by the shed and meet up with Phunthusuntorn on the street. The incident is still under investigation. Candace Higgins Elmhurst Dairy out of business For the first time in history, New York City will be without a local dairy supplier. Elmhurst Dairy, located on 155-25 Styler Rd. in Jamaica, Queens, announced on Aug. 2 that it will be closing its doors for good after more than 80 years of business. For nearly the last 20 years, Elmhurst Dairy was the last of its kind in New York City. About 20 milk processing plants have closed due to the difficult up-keep of operating a dairy business in a rapidly changing market. In this day and age, the popularity of other calcium-rich products such as almond and soy milk have taken a toll on the business. CEO Henry Schwartz said the decision to close the family business was a last resort. “My family was dedicated to trying to keep the plant open long past the years that it was economically viable because it was the wishes of its founder, Max Schwartz, that future generations of the family continue the business. The family did so at a very high cost but is unable to continue to do so without ongoing losses,” Schwartz explained. The closing of the factory will affect 273 employees but Elmhurst Dairy is committed to re-using the site in a way that will benefit the community economically. Candace Higgins


QC08042016
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