Banner planes are noise pollution I...
Banner planes are noise pollution
I applaud the City Council for considering a ban of banner-towing
airplanes over our homes.
My family lives due north of the beach and about four blocks from
the Hilton. We have lived here in this area since 1976 and before. My
home has been in my family since 1959.
For years we have endured the noise on the weekends and during the
special events at the beach, such as the surf contest. The noise and
planes have gotten worse in the past two years. I take exception to
the businesses who think they have the right to penetrate the peace
and quiet of my home.
If you think these planes are cute and do a service, then you had
better spend the weekend in our neighborhood year after year and
count the number of times they fly over and how many there are. And
while you are at it, take a noise test.
My family goes to the beach often and finds the noise of the
planes just as bad. The noise of the older planes is awful. We cannot
hear to talk on the phone inside our own homes. We cannot enjoy our
backyards. We who work at home on weekends cannot concentrate. We who
sleep during the days go without sleep. We who are sick are being
made sicker by the noise. Noise is also pollution. There is a church
in my neighborhood and others in the area.
These planes fly a circle directly over my house and then head
back to the beach. They also fly over Main Street.
One day this past month, we witnessed a plane stall his engine
over Main Street and the yellow banner dropped down. I don’t think
this is safe or good advertising. Do you wish to see a banner with an
aborted fetus? What will it take -- a plane crash in our neighborhood
or on Main Street -- for someone to listen to our cries for help. I
hope not. I have spent the weekend taking a count of them in the past
years and noting the banners -- all to no avail.
On May 28, I spoke to the [Federal Aviation Administration] and
found out that we can request, under the Freedom of Information Act,
a copy of the FAA authorizations of these banner-towing planes. One
would have to write the Long Beach Flight Standards District Office.
I urge all to boycott the businesses that advertise until some
sort of sanity reigns. I urge the City Council to do the right thing.
CHARLOTTE MELSON
Huntington Beach
It is Sunday at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday. I am attempting to
nap in my patio in the Downtown Huntington Beach area. At this time I
have been unable to nap because a yellow airplane, towing a blue
banner; a white airplane towing a Banana Boat banner and a white
airplane towing a Pro-surfer banner have constantly been in the air
near and over my home for the past hour.
This has been going on since 11 a.m. I am not against any type of
advertising; I do resent the noise pollution and disturbance caused
by these advertisers. What can I do? I wrote a letter on Labor Day
2001 regarding this problem. I finally received an answer from the
city in July 2002. At that time, I was told to contact (via mail) the
FAA to voice my complaint.
I did not believe that statement, because we as a city control our
airspace to a certain extent.
What can a normal citizen do, when you do not receive proper
information from your city policymaker? I have had enough of the
continuing noise. I am ready to do what it takes to return our city
to less noise pollution. It is now 3:10 p.m., and there is a lull in
the flight activity -- until the next onslaught of noise.
I hope this will bring the public attention this situation
deserves.
GILBERT FIGUEROA
Huntington Beach
Businesses should
advertise as they like
I support the use of airplane-banner advertising. What A Lot A
Pizza and the other businesses have a right to advertise their
products without the heavy hand of government restrictions. Wayne
LaVigne’s business is providing a service to Huntington Beach, and
he’s trying to make a living by selling his product. I’m sure
Councilwoman Connie Boardman likes the tax revenue generated by
LaVigne and the other businesses using airplane-banner advertising.
Of course I am not surprised Boardman introduced this ordinance as
she is no friend of business or taxpaying residents. She worked very
hard to prohibit Wal-Mart from establishing its tax-generating
business in Huntington Beach and supports wasting tax money on paying
higher-than-market prevailing wages to street sweepers. Boardman
needs to take an economics class where she might learn that on one
hand you cannot propose legislation that hinders tax-generating
businesses, while the other hand dole out inflated wages for
government contracts. Or maybe she just doesn’t care when it is not
her money she is playing with.
J. R. WILLIAMS
Huntington Beach
City needs to fix
pump-out stations
Councilman [Ralph] Bauer is quick to blame pollution of Huntington
Beach Harbour on those of us who own boats and live or own in the
harbor. The majority of our vessels have holding tanks. Frequently
when we go to use one of the two pump-out docks, they are out of
order. For the third time in the last few months, both were out of
order (one of them more frequently than the other is in front of the
Huntington Harbour Yacht Club, of which Bauer is a member).
Neither the fireman at the Warner Avenue Station or the harbor
patrol at Sunset Marina know who is responsible for keeping the
pump-out stations maintained. If Bauer is serious about having a
clean harbor, he ought to make certain that the equipment is properly
maintained and notices posted as to whom we can call when service is
required.
ROBERT B. CUMMINGS
Huntington Beach
Bravo Tom Harmon for refusing money
Assemblyman Tom Harman was right to refuse the money for Bolsa
Chica in exchange for his vote on the budget. The budget is a bad one
with new tax increases and not enough spending cuts. Harman is to be
commended for protecting the taxpayers of his district.
MARK COHEN
Huntington Beach
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