The Downside of a Lovely Evening

(CLICK TO ENLARGE) From day to night. Traffic noise hums as amplified speech drones on into a pleasant Jan. 28 evening at the corner of H and 8th Streets NE. (Copyright © 2006. David Klavitter)

Yesterday’s pleasant temperature, calm wind and brilliant sunshine was a welcome respite from the brisk, cold winds of the last four Saturdays. Gorgeous conditions that compound the detrimental affects of extended hours of amplified speech.

The day, too, was a peek at the neighborhood’s outlook for springtime, when most everyone will want to be outside gardening, chatting, and cooking on the grill. Open windows would be nice, but that’s not been a Saturday reality for anyone on our block because of the constant ranting from the corner.

It was exhausting yesterday—worsened whenever a passerby would challenge the preachers’ message. Yelling and screaming ensues, while cars, trucks and buses roar past. It’s a maddening cacophony of noise. The residents need relief.

The D.C. law renders police powerless to do anything about the blaring amplifier pointed at the houses. And apparently the D.C. city council doesn’t care—I’ve not received responses to my emails from any council representatives in three weeks.

I did receive my D.C. tax filing information, however.