PRESS RELEASE
February 19, 2020
Contact: Connie Conway
(631) 702-1743
The public has weighed in on a proposed ban on balloons in the Town of Southampton and an overwhelming response is in favor of the ban. Participants were asked in a website poll, that ended Friday, February 14th, should balloons filled with lighter than air gas, including helium, be banned and a two to one majority voted “yes”.
In a two question poll, participants were first asked whether they agreed that releasing balloons into the environment poses a danger to the environment and to wild life. Of the 981 respondents, 848 (86%) said “yes”.
The second question asked whether the Town should prohibit the sale, distribution and release of any type of balloon filled with lighter than air gas, including helium balloons, and of the 988 respondents; 656 (66%) said “yes”, while 332 (33.6%) said “no”.
The recommendation to ban balloons was first floated by the Town’s Sustainability Committee. The Town Board requested the poll to help them determine public opinion. No proposed legislation is pending at this time. If a proposed resolution is offered it would first have to go through the public hearing process before a vote could be taken.
