Hudson County Cities To Take Fight Against Helicopter Noise To Court

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Years of complaints about noisy and low-flying helicopters in Hudson County came to a head this week when several towns said they'll join a lawsuit against a local heliport operator.

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said that the county will join a suit filed by the town of Kearny in Superior Court against Helo Holdings Inc., a Kearny-based helicopter company.

County officials said they expect the towns of Jersey City, Hoboken, Union City, and Bayonne to join the suit as well.

Kearny Mayor Carol Jean Doyle said the town was happy to take the lead in court.

"Kearny residents, and all those living across Hudson County, deserve a high quality of life," she said, "and this lawsuit will ensure the lives of our residents will not be harassed by constant helicopter flights.”

Back in June, Guy and the Board of County Commissioners to support coordinated legal action and share legal expenses for a suit.

“For years, Hudson County has been inundated with the relentless whirring of helicopters flying low over our communities, creating excessive noise and safety concerns for our residents,” Guy said on Tuesday.

Several elected officials publicly backed the case, including U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez, state Sen. Raj Mukherji, Bayonne Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, and Union City Mayor Brian Stack.

In a statement released by the county, Solomon said, “Jersey City is proud to join Hoboken, Bayonne, Kearny, and Hudson County in this lawsuit, because a regional problem demands a regional response."

Hudson County Superior Court will now decide whether to grant Hudson County interested-party status and whether other towns can join in similar fashion.

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