Bloggers Sound Off About New D.C. Noise Rules

NOW HEAR THIS: The D.C. Council this afternoon passed a new noise bill, a move that came after a series of amendments and a bruising skirmish between labor unions and some council members.

Reports The Post's Nikita Stewart:

Under the amended legislation, noncommercial public speech during the day would be restricted to no greater than 80 decibels, or 10 decibels above the ambient noise level when measured from inside the nearest occupied dwelling in low-density residential zones.

In short, people can still get really loud with amplified noise, particularly downtown.

"Penn Quarter, I hope you're listening. You're being written off," Cheh said of the downtown neighborhood.

What does Penn Quarter think of the bill? Not much, says local blog Penn Quarter Living:

It was very easy to tell that Tommy Wells, Mary Cheh, David Catania, and Carol Schwartz were on the side of the DC citizens while the rest of the council members (including Jack Evans) folded to labor union pressure.

The union members and others say they wanted to keep the new ordinances from hindering their ability to protest in the city. On the other side of the argument were citizens like David Klavitter, whose Quest for Quiet blog has long called for more restrictive noise regulations.

He's not happy, either.

"Basically, this offers zero protection for our downtown friends and allows the noise of a freight train inside a residential bedroom," he wrote this afternoon.

» "D.C. Council Approves Amended Noise Bill" [WaPo]
» "Gutted Noise Bill Passed Council" [Quest for Quiet]
» "Amplified Noise Legislation Update (Bad News)" [PQ Living]

Posted By Greg Barber at 4:24 PM on June 3, 2008 Tagged in D.C. Government , Free Ride , H Street NE , News , The District , Top Stories

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