McCarthy Taps Transportation Secretary to Address Aircraft Noise

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, at a special appearance at Monday night's meeting of the Town-Village Aircraft Safety and Noise Abatement Committee, promised to Nassau residents fed up with the noisy planes flying over their homes to go to the top to address the issue.

After months of getting the "run-around" from officials at the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who have been accused of passing the blame back-and-forth rather than working together, McCarthy said she's made it her goal to "bring them together ... hopefully by September."

On Aug. 2, McCarthy sent a follow-up letter (see attached) addressed to Michael Huerta, acting administrator of the FAA, and Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority, requesting both agencies commit to a memorandum of understanding, addressing their respective responsibilities in mitigating aircraft noise. This document, she said, would represent "a formal starting point for residents and local elected officials alike to work with both entities in a manner that reduces noise pollution over the skies of Nassau County."

McCarthy, who represents the Fourth Congressional district and lives in Mineola, also vowed to arrange a meeting between TVASNAC and United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. 

"We have to go to the top now," McCarthy said during the 30 minutes she spent fielding questions and concerns from TVASNAC members and residents at the meeting held in the Stewart Manor Country Club. "Certainly, we've been talking to [LaHood's] people here on the state level and on the federal level, but now it's time for him to get involved, because he can make those decisions and make things happen faster."

McCarthy also said congressional oversight has gotten better in recent years, but was discouraged that an amendment she supported, which would have blocked contractors with poor performance records from receiving future contracts, was recently killed in Congress. 

"That is terrible … cronyism," she added.

Frank Scatturro, one of the challengers to McCarthy this November, also spoke up, stating, "We need congressional oversight badly and I don't believe we're getting it."

Check back soon to see the second part of our coverage of the Aug. 27 TVASNAC meeting, which will explore expert recommendations presented to the board on how they can take action to access federal funds to address the noise problem.