Street Loiterers & Their Music
I recently bought a co-op, and my unit happens to be very near a small park and deli – both of which are apparently gathering places on nice days. I actually don’t mind the gathering so much, but there is always a soundtrack accompanying these gatherings. People either open up their cars and blare music…
I recently bought a co-op, and my unit happens to be very near a small park and deli – both of which are apparently gathering places on nice days. I actually don’t mind the gathering so much, but there is always a soundtrack accompanying these gatherings. People either open up their cars and blare music for all to hear, or they bring boom boxes. I am subjected to music all day and evening, all weekend long. I’ve even heard the music coming from the windows of the building next door (which I do not think is a co-op). I call 311 all the time, but what else can I do to get this under control? The little park is actually designated as a “Quiet Zone.”
this thread is really funny
OP, the fact that there is a “Quiet Zone” sign indicates that this has been an issue for others in the past. I suggest you contact your local community board, which in this era of term limits, often has the best institutional memory.
Snappy,
You come rolling down my block blasting JT out of your SUV, and you are going to get a bigtime earful of John Coltrane’s Crescent. So there.
Seriously, crownlfc’s early comments make a lot of sense. Nothing wrong with wanting some decent quality of life. Helpful to know whether you are going up against a problem everyone hates or the block mayor is the one blasting the music. Every situation is different and you should move slowly and carefully, gaining local knowledge along the way, rather than quickie escalation.
“I actually think that it is partly an intimidation tactic used to express some sort of proprietorship over public land.”
Posted by bohuma
Amen, bohuma!
It’s aural graffiti.
rmf2175: you said that the noise was the problem but latins are causing the noise, what is the difference? we live in the best city in the world. the diversity is AMAZING. i dislike the fire trucks and their sirens, i also dislike babies crying (and i have them), but i am not calling 311 or complaining. this is called life and it is something that we have to deal with, fortunately or unfortunately. if you truly wanted peace you would live in the suburbs or arizona as mentioned.
i live in a lovely brownstone and i have neighbors with tenants who are completely obnoxious and loud. i also have a partner who plays an instrument inside our four walls and no one has said anything to us. we have a man who sweeps the streets who sings with his ipod on, but guess what, when someone in my family lost their wallet, he was the one who found it and returned it with all of the money inside. he drives me crazy with his songs, but you know what, i have grown to appreciate him and them.
what is the true definition of “quality of life”? doesn’t it change depending on each individual and their own criteria? my suggestion, ear plugs, a loud ac or put your bedroom in the back of the house/apartment.
best of luck because it is summer in nyc.
Wonderful story, Stonergut!
I know a lot of you don’t frequent the OT, but we are currently having a very interesting and relatively tame discussion about racism in there today. You might want to take a gander….
Labeling someone else a racist because they mentioned race feels like a great way to get rid of your own tension about race and feel more secure that you are not a racist yourself.
The link to yesterday’s op ed about noise is relevant:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/opinion/02prochnik.html?scp=3&sq=noise&st=cse
InsertSnappyNameHere, about 7 or 8 years ago my daughter was able to live this fantasy. Her relationship with her babysitter had reached the stage where my kid could easily have called her “my driver’. The sitter’s boyfriend had the car outfitted for the Labor Day West Indian Festival with some big speakers. (These were somewhat larger than the ones employed by the fictional band, Disaster Area from the Hitchhiker’s Guide books).
Our wonderful sitter allowed my kid to blast Andrew Bird all the way from Fort Greene over to her dance class at BAX.
And that is the story of how all of the Hipsters first heard of Andrew Bird.