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New York, NY - Economic Disaster Makes the City Finally Get Some Sleep |
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Less city money means fewer construction projects. Less money in people's pockets means less hubbub in shopping centers. And less noise translates to fewer calls to the city's 311 hot line to complain about it.
Noise complaints phoned into the city's 311 hot line between January and March plummeted 16.5% compared to the first quarter last year -- from 9,292 to 7,755 -- and city officials cited fewer construction projects and slowing commerce for the newfound tranquility.
"Part of the drop in complaints is certainly because there is less activity," said Gerry Kelpin, the head of the air and noise unit of the city Department of Environmental Protection.
Calls ranting about the racket from private sanitation trucks led the decline. City operators fielded 163 such complaints in the year's first three months, down 44 percent from last year.
Building-permit data support Kelpin's theory, with applications for permits down almost 45 percent -- from 1,049 in the first four months of 2008 to 577 in the same period this year, according to the Department of Buildings.
The slowed pace of construction might be bad for jobs, but it's music to New Yorkers' eardrums.
Complaints about noise from construction equipment were down by 29 percent; jackhammer gripes nose-dived 28 percent.
Economic misery might be prompting New Yorkers to seek company at raucous parties. Complaints of loud music and parties surged 18 percent in the first three months of this year.
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Read Comments (3) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 07, 2009 at 11:58 AM Anonymous Says:
The reason why buliding permits is down is because you gotta be crazy t o build now in the city with all the fines, charges, stop orders from the building dept.
2
Jun 07, 2009 at 02:13 PM kupshtik Says:
obama times: parties-up work-down leave your job and go party
3
Jun 07, 2009 at 05:33 PM Anonymous Says:
The main reason for construction noise complaint reduction, is because the city has gone absolutely beserk in making building in NYC worthwhile. DOB has gone nuts DEP meshuga and Finance crazy. Its bad enough that the economy is bad coupled by banks not lending, you gotta be crazy to build in NY. The city has totally lost its marbles. They finally got what the city wanted. No more construction and developement. We will make up the shortfall in the budget by taxing and fining everybody to death. May it be parking , building, water or breathing. Way to go Mike Bloomberg we need 4 more years of your dreck so we can all starve. MORON