February 5, 2008
D.C. Considers Limiting dB
David Klavitter doesn't blog about presidential politics, sports or trashy entertainment gossip. No, he just wants some peace and quiet, dammit.
Since February 2005, Klavitter's blog, Quest for Quiet, has detailed his fight against loud demonstrators near his H Street NE home. The demonstrators, part of a group known as the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledgde, more commonly known as part of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, had taken to a corner every Saturday and used amplification to make their opinions known to all who passed. According to Klavitter, "They choose to use a microphone and amplifier, which projects LOUDLY and CLEARLY into my yard -- so much so that I can hear their droning from INSIDE my house with the windows closed. I can’t even open my windows when the weather is nice." (FreeRide interviewed both Klavitter and a representative of the group, who called Klavitter a "racist...throwing a tantrum.")
Well, Klavitter may soon have his victory. On January 29, D.C. Council's Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs endorsed legislation introduced by Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) that would place limits on the use of amplification in residential areas. The legislation, known as the Noise Control Protection Amendment Act of 2007, would allow for noise above 70dB -- as a reference, 60dB is considered ambient noise while 90dB is the sound of a running lawnmower -- to be considered a disturbance when measured from 50 feet. Currently, no such limits exist. Various other cities impose limits in residential areas ranging from 60dB in Miami to 75dB in Los Angeles.
Mayor Adrian Fenty, various members of the Council and a number of neighborhood organizations have endorsed the legislation, which is set to come to a vote before the full council in February 19. Of course, there has been opposition, though it has been muted. In testimony last year, the D.C. Guerilla Poetry Insurgency lined up against the bill, arguing, "We fear this bill could dampen the efforts of people trying to make a difference in their communities whether that be through the creation of music or organizing community marches." James Henry, a representative of the BHI, argued that Klavitter's complaints were about more than just free speech, claiming, "This issue is about one thing and one thing only: This is the new white residents of the 8th and H Street corridor exerting their control over the black people who they will soon oppress and push out of their neighborhood."
If Klavitter is really a closeted racist, his comprehensive blogging on the issue doesn't show it. And while it seems like the legislation could make demonstrations in certain parts of the District more difficult -- especially those neighborhoods that are both residential and commercial, like Adams Morgan or Dupont Circle -- it also seems carefully tailored to balance free speech rights against many of the concerns Klavitter has expressed.
If you love or hate the idea, give a shout -- errrr, quiet whisper -- in the comments.
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SEEMS FAIRLY REASONABLE TO ME
Oh man, these guys are nuts. They used to protest outside an office building I worked at in NYC many, many years ago. The difference there was that New Yorkers had no problems making their opinions on the bullhorns known via middle fingers, colorful expletives, and half-full coffee cups. Ah, sometimes I miss my hometown...
I can't believe, with all of the protests and demonstrations in DC, that the residential areas haven't enjoyed protection. Why would any Council member oppose this?
Twhat? TWHAT? I cu*t hear you! I have an ear infu**tion!
Seriously, if circling the block in my Escalade blasting Master P and Mexican rap at 2am is wrong, I don't want to be right.
i'm all for it. the fact is, this law will only get cited if there is a real nuisance. if a one time protest comes through a neighborhood, i don't see people having a problem with it. it's the sustained, week-in, week-out stuff that the group on h street does that seems like it can be reasonably curbed.
I feel his pain and fully support the idea! I had to suffer through SEVEN years of the same music vendor blaring his reggaeton directly under my window 7 days a week on Columbia Road. I couldn't study, I couldn't watch t.v. peacefully, I couldn't have a conversation without the incessant Latin beats driving me up a wall. I completely support the right of people to protest, demonstrate, etc. But the same person/group should not be allowed to become a permanent fixture in one spot if their noise levels are going to completely disrupt the entire block.
Funny thing is, four years later, that same music vendor is still there, blaring that same music. grrrrrr....
"This issue is about one thing and one thing only: This is the new white residents of the 8th and H Street corridor exerting their control over the black people who they will soon oppress and push out of their neighborhood."
Ha! Yes, that is clearly the only issue.
"Ha! Yes, that is clearly the only issue."
Of course! Because everyone knows that the black residents of H St. NE just love having loud, incoherent protesters belting away into microphones and bullhorns on every weekend.
Support the bill be e-mailing your Councilmember and the At-Large members.
See http://questforquiet.blogspot.com/ for e-mail addresses, the letter of support and other info.
Ah the race card, so easy to play
Actually, there is a similar situation in Woodley Park to this, so it is a broader issue than in H Street.
part of me feels like if you don't enjoy noise you shouldn't live in a city. however, when i was jolted out of bed this morning by heavily distorted window rattling hip hop blaring from someone's car stereo i felt otherwise.
If the Black Hebrew Israelites want to do street preaching, they just have to go to a non-residential area. I've seen them at Metro Center and nobody really seems to care. I think most of us here are pro DC voting rights, but who wants them demonstrating under our bedroom window every weekend?
Not In My Back Room!
There's noise, and then there's noise. I like this legislation.
The Black Hebrew Israelites are obnoxious creeps and most assuredly do NOT speak for the overwhelming majority of people who live, work, and shop on the H St corridor.
Lexically, it's dB not Db or db.
(I used to have a radio show in college called decibel)
Lexically, it's dB not Db or db.
(I used to have a radio show in college called decibel)
Aw, does this mean I'll have to miss amusing sights like a guy yelling into of a bullhorn out of a Code Pink van? That definitely spiced up my walk down Penn this afternoon.
(Just kidding, totally awesome)
I'm all for this. I have nothing against a groups right to demonstrate, but they need to think about how their demonstration is affecting others.
Ironically, without the amplifier, the loud group that inspired this legislation might actually get their message across more successfully:
They use amplification when they are at 8th and H St., NE, but they do not when they are at Metro Center (across from the Macy's entrance, usually early Friday evenings). Oddly enough, without their amplifier, they're perfectly tolerable and perfectly understandable (when they have their amplifier, the distortion and clipping is such that I can't understand most of what they're saying).
I'm all for freedom of speech and freedom of expression, just not freedom of amplification.
So, hate to nitpick about this, but who will enforce this glorious new law? MPD? Seriously?
I have tried to get noise ordinances enforced in two separate cities where I once lived, and both times the cops refused to do it, even once when I handed an officer a copy of the city code (he told me the city's noise meter was "broken").
DC fuzz are so f'ing apathetic that I'd imagine you'd have to yell with a bullhorn at the chief herself to find someone to do something about the noise. And, I'd bet the penalty would be a ticket, meaning the black israelites would just be back next week, ranting about racist oppression.
Just my guess....
Those guys are LOUD. They also use nooses in their sermons(?) which scares the crap out of me, but I guess it's not illegal to string up a statue on a lamppost.
The obvious answer would seem to be, just have your own weekly amplified demonstration in front of Furious Zion's house. Preferably starting an hour before he likes to wake up.
Just another question...if these dudes are literally threatening to kill people, can't the police arrest them for making threats and/or attempted assault?
Those guys are literally all talk and I can't imagine how anybody takes them seriously. Somebody ought to stage a counter-demonstration with an even bigger amplifier. Or just put some George Michael on repeat.
"This issue is about one thing and one thing only: This is the new white residents of the 8th and H Street corridor exerting their control over the black people who they will soon oppress and push out of their neighborhood."
I've been to H & 8th St and the black residents suffer FAR more than the white ones. First of all, most of the white residents there are deaf --- Gallaudet students. The preachers commonly shout insults at the black passersby and there is regularly a confrontation.
Also, the use of nooses: weren't they trying to outlaw that in the US? Oh, I forgot, that's only when a white person does it.