After much back-and-forth, the Port Authority has revised the structure of the NY Airports Roundtable, the purpose of which is to discuss mitigation plans for airplane noise. The new format is causing disagreement among the interested factions.
In an effort to finally get the ball rolling on the NY Airports Roundtable begun nearly a year ago by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the PANYNJ has sent a letter to airport stakeholders outlining a new format and voting structure for the roundtable. Up to now, there has been much debate on these details, to the point where roundtable meetings (originally established as one per New York/New Jersey airport) have been encumbered by issues of style over substance – so that meeting about the proper way to meet has delayed discussion about actual noise mitigation.
The Eastern Queens Alliance, who did not respond to The Forum’s requests for comment, had proposed a format that would give JFK its own roundtable. As a larger airport, JFK does contribute more to the problem of airplane noise, so, from the Alliance’s perspective, an equal distribution of committee members for each airport (as under the current PANYNJ proposal, allotting 32 each) may prove challenging. They support a two-roundtable arrangement also because it give more control to civic groups and citizens experiencing the noise pollution directly, rather than to an executive committee.
Queens Quiet Skies long supported a one-roundtable structure but was nonetheless displeased with the new proposal, citing concerns with the voting system and committee representation. QQS as well did reply to queries for this story.
Len Schaier, a retired military systems engineer who runs quietskies.net, wants to get back to the crux of the issue: noise mitigation.
“People are wrapped up in the stupidity of what they’re calling the committees,” he said, adding that “the key” instead is tending to further development of noise maps, an integral component of the FAA Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study.
“Right now it’s form over function,” Schaier explained, emphasizing the need for a technical advisory committee. “If people get a vote on everything, nothing ever gets done.”
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park), was pleased with the one-roundtable structure. “The Port Authority finally took charge,” he said. At the same time, he agreed that disagreements had been a hindrance to progress.
“We’ve spend more time fighting about the structure of the roundtable than actually addressing the issues at hand, and that’s unacceptable. The whole idea is to bring openness to the table, to bring together diverse people who have the same interests. Everyone has to be amenable to change,” Goldfeder reasoned.
The next roundtable meeting is scheduled for April 7 at York College.
By Eugénie Bisulco eugenie@theforumnewsgroup.com
