Noisemakers on Holiday

Apparently the Memorial Day weekend was an "off" week for the noise makers--they never showed up at their usual time and place. The community was able to enjoy some peace and quiet Saturday, but I'm sure the fellows, their amplifier, and the noise will return next Saturday.

Help Requested of Two More D.C. Agencies

Skip Coburn responds to my email! And he addresses an entire league of D.C. agencies with which I’m not familiar. He points specific questions at each agency. And it’s obvious Skip has tried to address this problem in the past with little results. For translation DDOT is the District Department of Transportation; MPD is Metropolitan Police District and DCRA is the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs:

Dear Friends,

As you can see in the email below, I am sort of on the hook for coming up with a solution to this "noise" problem that citizens (residents) in the vicinity of 8th and "H" Streets, NE have been complaining about for years. Unfortunately, I do not have either the authority or the resources to take any action. Yes, as the email below states, the residents are "waiting to hear from me." What does DDOT, MPD, and DCRA want me to tell them. What are you going to do to address their complaints?

I have been dutifully forwarding these complaints to DDOT, DCRA, MPD and others for these same years, and NO ONE with the power and enforcement authority (which I certainly do not have) has managed to deal effectively (or at all) with the issue.

Would DDOT, DCRA, and MPD please be definitive about what can be done and what can't be done in this case.

DCRA - have you ever gone to this cite in response to the many complaints and taken a decible measurement. If so, what were the results. If not, why not?

DDOT - as I asked yesterday, could Denise or someone there please send a definitive email to Commander McGuire (at 1D) clarifying exactly what legitimate permit, if any, the offending group, has from DDOT at this point in time. PLEASE.

MPD - couldn't you please come up with some creative policing, go, observe, evaluate, and possibly find cause to cite or arrest for "inciting to riot," "incommoding," or some other crime. The loud and verbal abuse that residents are being subjected to is intollerable.

A response to myself and to the citizens who are STILL complaining will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Skip Coburn
(202) 724-4405

Another Query about Petitions

It's a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I write while sitting at my computer with my windows closed because of the continuous noise being broadcast from the corner of H and 8th Streets NE.

Again, I send a note to MPD, the ANC commissioners and Skip Coburn of Councilwoman Ambrose's office. I tell them we have a group of concerned and irritated neighbors--as well as an alliance of neighborhood groups--ready and willing to sign a petition. We've not yet heard from Mr. Coburn.

Could this also be a public safety issue, I wonder? My wife, Kara, and I have no car and use public transportation. We frequently wait at the bus stops on the corner of H and 8th Streets. I'm curious about the harmful decibel level of the noise at the bus stop on the southeast corner of the intersection. The group's amplified speaker is pointed right at the bus stop shelter. Seems to me this could be a serious health concern for those that must wait for their north-bound Route 90, 92, and 93 buses.