Get Involved

A Quieter Community Is Up to You!!!

·        Become Informed: Become knowledgeable about the noise problem, the effects of noise and potential solutions. You will have to do homework to discuss the noise problem intelligently. Document the noise problem by keeping logs of noise occurrences, including time, date and duration. You can also purchase an inexpensive decibel meter to measure how loud the noise is. Know whether there are laws that can be used to correct the noise problem. Seek out possible solutions. Remember - you may end up knowing more about the noise problem than the public officials or enforcement agencies.

·        Get Organized: The noise in your neighborhood must also be disturbing your neighbors. Knock on some doors, speak to neighbors in the stores, and set up a small meeting in someone's home. Get yourselves a name, e.g. Neighbors Against Community Noises; elect some officers, add some well-known names to your advisory board, secure a mailing address and print formal stationery.

·        Be Prepared to Do A Lot of Work: Only a few will do the bulk of the work - expect that. However, you can get lots of signatures on petitions to enlarge the group's size. Remember: There must be a "We" to battle noise!

·        Take Advantage of Existing Community Groups: Some communities have block associations, local community boards or other existing groups that may welcome a group devoted to noise problem. You may be able to attach your group to this existing organization which should allow you to use their already formalized stationery.

·     Local Precinct Councils: Police Department Precinct Community Councils hold meetings where residents can voice concerns about quality-of-life issues. Attend these meetings and get noise on the agenda.

·        Community Boards: Members of these Boards re appointed by City Council members and the Borough President. Every community board in New York City has an Environmental Protection Committee. Find out who chairs the committee and ask to have noise problem addressed. Attend community board meetings and speak up on noise issue. Ask the Community Board's District Manager for assistance with noise problem.

·        Enlist Your Public Officials: Your local Council members will be most accessible. Ask them to join the noise group and add their names to your stationery. Enlist them in your efforts to quiet the noise and to educate the community on the importance of lowering the decibel level.

·        Discover Which Agencies May Be Most Helpful: Is it the Police Department, the Transit Authority, the Department of Environmental Protection, or the Buildings Department? Write a letter on your impressive stationery to the appropriate agency asking for a meeting on the problem. Have representatives from your groups and representatives of your public officials attend this meeting.

·        Go To the Media: Publicize the noise problem. Create events to highlight the problem. Send out press releases to all the media, e.g. radio, television, daily newspapers. Don't forget the local community newspapers that are more likely to give you more coverage. Work hard at getting publicity for the problem.

·        Hold Community Meetings on the Noise Problem: Ask agency representatives, local public officials and knowledgeable group members to speak to the community about the problem and possible solutions. Publicize your meetings - you want large turnout - distribute flyers and post notices about noise meeting.

To Sum up:

·        Become informed

·        Get organized

·        Increase your members

·        Enlist public officials and the media

·        Be persistent: You can reduce the noise!

Dr. Arline L. Bronzaft

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