Fenty Says He Would Sign and Enforce Noise Fix

(CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mayor-Elect Adrian Fenty during Thursday’s ANC6A meeting. (Copyright © 2006. David Klavitter)

Washington, D.C. Mayor-Elect Adrian Fenty said he "absolutely" would sign a bill to fix the loophole in the city’s noise statute, which allows unlimited levels of amplified speech in the city residential areas. And, he emphasized, “not only would I sign it, but I would ensure the law was enforced.”

Fenty made his pledge Thursday evening during an open forum at the monthly Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A meeting at Miner Elementary School. His answer was in response to questions related to H Street NE issues, specifically the weekly amplified noise at the southeast corner of H and 8th Streets NE.

The incoming mayor told ANC 6A Chairman Joe Fengler he was well aware of the situation. Fengler’s single member district includes the corner in question.

“I’d knock on doors [during the campaign] and hear about it from residents living on both sides of H Street,” Fenty told the assembled community. “What’s happening on that corner is not acceptable.”

This is good news for the residents and businesses in and around the H Street intersection, which suffer every weekend from more than four hours of amplified speech. We support free speech, religion and assembly, but underscore our right to peace and quiet in our own homes and businesses.

Alan Kimber (Copyright © 2006. David Klavitter)

A representative from the office of incoming Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells--who has publicly pledged to fix the noise law--attended the meeting. ANC6C Commissioner-Elect Alan Kimber and H Street Main Street Chairman Anwar Saleem also asked Fenty to support H Street public safety and development issues.

Anwar Saleem (Copyright © 2006. David Klavitter)