Palm Beach Residents Protest Increased Air Traffic, โBlaming trump-Related โฃFlight Restrictions
PALM BEACH, FL – โขResidentsโ of Palm Beach are voicing strong opposition to newly established and expanded โขflight restrictions over the area, โฃclaiming the changes have dramatically increasedโ noise andโข pollution impactingโข their โquality of life. The complaintsโ centerโข on altered flight paths implemented to provide โairspace security around former โPresident Donald Trump’sโ Mar-a-Lago estate,โข with manyโ residents now fearing the restrictions are becoming permanent.
For months, locals have reported a surge in low-flying aircraft andโ associated fumes,โค initially occurring when the Secret Service enacted temporary flight restrictions during Trump’s visits. the federalโ Aviation Administration (FAA) โhas since imposed year-round restrictions, banning aircraft within aโฃ one-mile radiusโ ofโ Mar-a-Lago โup to 2,000 โคfeet, even when theโค former president โฃis not present.
During a recent hearingโ before the Palm Beach County Citizens Committee, residents detailed the negative consequences. Jane Jonesโค stated, “My house is filled with the smell of jet fuel.” Nevin Bauman,a lifelong Palm Beach resident,described โขthe impact on hisโฃ young family,saying,”It’s absolutely heartbreaking to watch โthe monitors of my four-year-old and watch her toss andโข turn every time a plane goes over ourโ house.”
Concerns โคextend beyond noise and odor. Several residents warned of potential health impacts from constant โexposureโ to โaircraft exhaust and sonic booms. Dr. jerry Cammarata, a local physician, explained, “Noise is not just an irritation โฆ it leads to โขhypertension,โข heart disease, sleep disorders.”
Residents also reported physical damage to their properties, with one homeowner noting their โขwhite roof had turned gray due to pollution. Others lamented the โขloss of enjoyment of their โoutdoor spaces.”We can’t eat outโฆ we usuallyโ eat outside everyโ night for dinner. We can’t do that anymore because it’s constant jets,”โ one resident shared.
Homeowners expressed frustrationโ that they had specifically chosen their properties to โขavoid airport flightโ paths, making notableโฃ investments with the expectationโข of peace and quiet. One resident stated, “My wife and I boughtโ our home intentionally not โฃin the flight pathโฆ We made a significant investment – money and blood and sweat and some tears.”
Theโฃ changes are also โคraising concerns about property values. One โspeaker estimated the restrictions could led โคtoโค a “significant double-digit decrease” โin โขhome values. Residents characterized theโ FAA’s โhandling of the situation โas a “massive overstep” imposed “with no โฃmeasurement and no โconsideration on our lives,” effectivelyโ creating “an air traffic easement” over their homes.
County Commissioner Gregg Weiss โacknowledged that residents north andโ northeast of Palm Beach International Airport are experiencing heavier air traffic,increased jet noise,andโ potential โคflight delays.
The new Yorkโข Post reports reaching outโฃ to the white House, the FAA, โand the Secret Service forโ comment.
