To the Mayor of New York, the Commissioner of New York and Deputy Inspector Simmonetti,
I am writing this letter on November 1, 2009 at 5:18 AM, actually 4:18 on the new clock but currently 5:18 on my body’s internal clock. You may ask why I am awake at this early hour and I will let you know that neither my wife or myself have managed to sleep yet on this night.
The problem is that my neighbor from 1491 Carroll Street is having a Halloween DJ music party that started in the early hours of the evening and is continuing as I type.
The music is at the loudest decibels possible, in fact the walls of my children’s room are vibrating. The sound reaches every room of my house and in fact right now I hear my tenants pacing up and down on the floor above me!
To make matters worse, there are groups of party goers on my stoop outside screaming at the top of their voices like it is market day in the middle of the afternoon.
Remember, this is now 4:25 in the morning (new time) and I live on a “residential” block. Yes, I pay $7000 a year to have the privilege of living on a “residential” block, where you would think that the local police who are paid using my tax dollars as well as yours, might have the decency to ensure that the residents of the block can get to sleep at night or at the least not have a market and disco party taking place outside their bedroom window.
I have always been one who respects the police, greet them on the street and never fail to praise them when they do a good job. I have had a consistent problem with my neighbor who runs an illegal recording studio/pirate radio from his basement at 1491 Carroll Street.
Every night my children would cry that the loud music was keeping them up. This was in addition to the smell of drugs that would pervade their room. For years the 71st did nothing about the problem regardless of my calls to 311. It was only when I sent a letter to the Mayor and Commissioner that my complaints were given some attention.
When that initial pressure died down, the noise started up again on a nightly basis. Only when the new inspector took over were my 311 calls followed up on and the music became less frequent, quieter and stopped at a more respectable hour. The studio/pirate radio was not shut down but it became almost bearable and my children and I learned to live with it. At that point I spoke at the local precinct council meeting and praised the efforts of the new commanding officer and his staff.
What happened tonight has changed my perception of the local precinct. I am devastated at the lack of support that I was shown over the past 6 to 8 hours. Over the course of the night and morning I called 311 three times, I actually drove over to the precinct at 3 AM to speak with the officer on duty and I called the precinct directly twice. Twice I observed police officers come to the location, speak to some of the party goers and then leave without a change in the decibel level of the music.
At both instances there was a car parked at the hydrant (the same car was there all night) and the officers did nothing about it. Shocked and distressed, all I could do was write down the number of the first car (PBBS 2029) and observe the two officers who came later and chatted with one female for 10 minutes before leaving, again without entering the premises nor doing anything about the music.
With 6 children, thank G-d, including two ten month old twins who were up from 2am until 4 am because of the noise, I have no idea how I am going to manage over the next 24 hours, due to the lack of sleep.
I have lost the respect that I had for the local precinct and when the next person wonders aloud why we can’t all learn to live together and respect each other in this multi cultural city, my response might make mention of the over 50 people who decided that at 4 o’clock in the morning there is nothing wrong with screaming and shouting outside my window.
Respect? You’re having a laugh.
Signed,
Y.
Your kidding right?? he didnt call the cops 311 times. you’ve never heard of calling the #311 for NYC complaints?? my my your out of it.
everyone grow up!! where ever you live you will find problems. Simchas Bais Hashuava the steeets are loud and crazzy but think for a second if thats how it should be? Is simchas Beis Hashuava all about drunk people on the streets..No we are representing something more. its a joyous time with music and dancing!! If it gets to the point where it disturbs those around you then its time to tone it down and move the party indoors!
Your neighbors in CH or wherever you live should respect you and your family.
Thank- G-d i live in Montreal!!! its quietter then N.Y> and definetly cleaner. I dont know how you guys live in the jungle!!!
u rock
dont move to the uk you get it every shabbos
this is such a ch story
I SALUTE YOU!
CALIFORNIA IS THE ONLY PLACE AND THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE.
ITS QUIET, NICE, PEACEFUL, AND BEAUTIFULLLL.
IF U WANT TO LIVE A NICE LIFE THEN HOP ON A PLANE TO LAX NOW.
SEE YA THERE! 🙂
yeh thats a really good one
ha ha ha
I had the same problem – this is how I solved the problem.
I had a stereo with a few big speakers, I left the house and from 9 AM until 5 PM I had Nichoach playing very loud, and on auto repeat. Trust me it got very quiet very quickly.
Then I sold the house to y and moved out of town.
But fighting fire with fire is the best way to communicate.
Go to the pharmacy and buy earplugs. so much wasted anger. They have those big packs and you can give it out to your wife and children and your neighbors (the ones playing the music, cause the volume is bad for their ears.)
are you all that stupid i the first sentence he weites that he pays 7000 a year to live on a residential yes that is RESIDENTIAL, simchas beis is on a commercial block simchas beis is a week once a year i live on montgomery and albany and growing up i couldnt sleep anytime there goyim had reason to party a big holiday a small holiday even every saturday night they made noise till four in the morning my house was not attached from either side yet my bedroom would vibrate all night long from their insane speakers good going… Read more »
pleaseeee do NOT move to california and anyways we have bad stuff here to like g.. parades and much much more
it is not once a year!
its halloween, labor day, christmas, new years, july 4th and the list goes on.
get out of crazy crown heights which a horrendous place to raise a family and come to a quieter, nicer state like florida or cali and actually sleep at night.
you are making a terrible mistake by staying in crown heights. i hope you realize.
move, move, move if u know whats good for you and your poor children.
MOVE TO CALIFORNIA NONE OF THIS KIND OF SHTUS HAPPENS!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THATS WHY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IS not IN CROWN HEIGHTS!!!!! NOISY..LOUD……..
OMG, u really don’t live on this planet! Did you see the atrocities left behind after simchas torah? The median of Eastern Pkwy on 770 side was piled 1-1/2 feet high with drek! There were humdreds of discarded lulavim in addition to all the food and shmutz that the orchim left all over the place. Who do you think cleaned that up? The Vaad?? The Gabboim??
EVRYONE STOP FIGHTING YOUR COMMENTS SOUND LIKE YOUR IN A COURT HOUSE
You have loud blaring music coming through the wall of the house that is attached to you?
You really are a nice person to put up with that just because you were so ashamed of the drunk bochur who somehow managed to throw up in your neighbors yard….why didnt you clean it up for them since your fellow jews embarras you so??? I truly doubt most of what you say.
You are obviously not from NY since you have no idea what 311 is. I doubt that you even go to SBH. In your haste to put down another, you have not taken the time to read and understand the article. Also..tone down the name calling.
I live right there also…..we make just as much noise and cause just as much of an uproar as they do, if not more. I witnessed one of our fellow neighbor bachurim puke his guts out after an all night farbreigan, and where do you think this respect full young boy left his mark? On the front walkway of our colored friend’s house. Does that sound like organized and civil partying? And to answer your comment about not judging until your in the situation, well guess what, I’m right here and I am judging, stop making such a big deal… Read more »
Please note that in the UK this service is not available on weekends only weekdays
jews are smart!!! so many opinions!!!!
i dont understand. here in the uk you cant play loud music after 11pm or the council comes and deals with you immediately and music that neighbours play so loud that you can hear it in your own home really loudly is not acceptable at any time of the day. Once our neighbours had a party, and already by 9pm we called the council bc the noise was pretty loud. They came in our house to verify the noise level, and immediately went next door and dealt with the neighbours. CH is a bit of a free for all if… Read more »
Crown heights once again showing it’s the most illiterate community
i would be careful when labeling ch. its the Rebbes community and the Rebbe said kan tzivoh Hashem es habrocha.
Y just realized who you are!
i am so sorry for all you are going through!
the noise there was too much for me it was driving me
crazy, to have to come home and hear jungle music in the living room!!!! may this be resolved soon! regards to C
#34 batya shalhevet
Dear resident:
We really feel for you and share your pain. However, please do not disturbe the ” leaders of CH” they are in the middle of taking pictures and mettings with the politicians. They are on a contstan alert of every V.I.P who needs a photo up. As far as your problem with the police, the ” leaders” can arrainge you a photo up, but anything more then that, well…….. it’s very sad!!
On Kingston Avenue the cars blast music with vulgar lyrics. The worst is Shabbis morning when my son is preparing for shul and he is subjected to women and men singing together in a catchy toon about what immoralities they would like to commit with eachother.
Mr. Y. has my empathy.
i dont think we eat drugs on simchas beis hashoeiva like halloween. also i live down the block of simchas beis hashoeiva & i sleep fine [i could barely hear it] especially not alot of goyim live around kingston.
if you want peace from the goyim, move to kfar chabad; did’nt you yet notice that crown heights is not all jewish?
i used to live on that street and eventually had to leave. the cars blast hip hop all the time, especially on weekends. there is one apt in particular that really likes to share their radio with the rest of the world; full blast all the time. The kids come out and play ball, all of them hollering you think they are fighting. The best part is the loud conversations they carry out on their stoops, all through midnight-who shouts when they speak? i don’t get it. few times they had a party on sat night that kept me up… Read more »
it really is upsetting to read so many comments from fellow jews that obviously don’t practice ” don’t judge until you are in their place” I am sure if this happened to any one of them their comments would be way different. If anybody thought this situation through, they would understand that you can’t compare this poor family’s situation to simchas beis. You have my sympathies.
It is a shame all your comments.
First you all need some english courses before you write.
Just respect a fellow jew pain with Veahavta Lereacha camocha.
My only concern is if there is any jews in the halloween/drug party.
These days in Crown Heights with the latest fashion of jeans skirt above the knee and elbow out everything is possible
We all need refuah sheleima
Didn’t a rabbi once say that New York is no place for Jews?
I am completely on the side of the writer. I do agree that when we have sbh or kaporos or the parades… we may distrupt the neighborhood, however with all our tzuflufkitness, we do so in a civilized manner. Has anyone (and im sure plenty of you) been on Eastern Pkwy the day after labor day?? I live on Eastern Pkwy and I make sure that I am away on labor day, however, coming back that night or even the next morning only helps to an extent. The first year I lived on Eastern Pkwy, our family packed our bags… Read more »
that time of the year
why set yourself up for aggravation
maybe it is an opportunity to have some family time that you actually could use
doesnt have to cost much
To the person that wrote this letter: I feel bad for you, your wife and your children. CH obviously SUCKS. And to the people that are saying that you should not be complaining because of all the noise the jewish people make on all of those holidays…. theres a very big difference btwn noise that is a couple of hrs a night a couple of times a year and some blasting music ALL THE TIME and screamin 24/7 You people make me sick. But anyways…. move to Miami. If you hear any noise late at night there…. all you gota… Read more »
As I read your article, I felt for you. I have had the very same experience for many years, although our block party occurs each Labor Day, without fail. For those of you who laugh, or say “you are obsessing, just go to sleep” – you obviously have never truly experienced this. The music that reverberates from these parties is nothing like simchas beis hashoeva. It is a loud, reverberating, pulsating bass beat, that literally will drive you insane after a while. What I dont understand is why is this allowed, that our neighbors can party and do illegal things,… Read more »
Been there, done that….ended up selling my home just to get away from the madness. What a nightmare.
I agree with all the posters before me who say look what WE do to disturb their peace. We all complain about the craziness over Tishrei, what about our goyishe neighbors? It must drive them insane. Instead, a bigger issue is there was no way out of Brooklyn by road yesterday because of that stupid race. I had to go to NJ & couldn’t. The cops told me I couldn’t leave unless I took the subway. It was a weird feeling being trapped. Mr Carroll Street…it’s over. I’m sure you caught up on your sleep last night & if you… Read more »
I’m on carroll between schty and utica. I understand you all the way. But let me add a few shootings into the mix. 2 over 2 weeks this summer. Let me add ….. drugs and gambeling. Let me ad that the home is gutted and don’t even have a bathroom and the “residence” is full of squatters. Adding insult to injury is the fact that the first shooting wasn’t repoted. And worse the july 4th weekend party wasn’t a surprize either. We knew it was coming. 311 knew Carl cohen knew (he did nothing) P simoneti knew But the party… Read more »
People living in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones…
come move to Melbourne, we don’t have these problems here
Your 7,000 goes mostly to the local public school system not to the cops. Pls correct me if I am making a mistake.
u could always just throw eggs at them like we do….
we get a permit for S.B.H. while this mans neighbor did not
You’re a crank. Why should we be the only ones who are allowed to party every night all tishrei? Think of respecting our neighbors then? Listen: we have our parties and let them have theirs. There was no crime and you’ll catch up your sleep tonight.
You just came across as anal-retentive and a little pathetic (you called the cops 311 times?!?).
Dovid
dont we make noise during the wekk of sucos. give them a break
i beg you don’t make an issue of one or two nights that our non-Jewish neighbors party, or else they will start complaining about our disturbances, and there are many
Simchas Bais Hashuaiva is a FULL WEEK!
we have Kaporos, never mind the mess there is noies the whole night
Simchas Torah – people singing and dancing also screaming in the streets
the list goes on and on
let them have there day, or we lose or days
I hate to say it, but this sounds a bit hypocritical. I am obviously not condoning the behavior or disturbance of the peace, but at the same time what is it that you think goes on during our load and rambunctious Succos holiday disturbing the entire neighborhood for a week straight? We have to understand that as you say “we live in a this multi cultural city” and there are certain things that we have to deal with as do they. It just seems interesting that everyone believes the rule doesn’t apply to them. If the noise and partying was… Read more »
to complain for one night when we have music for several nights on succos veda”l
If this would happen here on my block (I’m a few blocks from Carroll) and my kids wouldn’t be able to sleep day in day out I’m not sure if I’d be as calm as the author above. If may family and I can’t sleep than neither would these so called neighbors.
if you email [email protected] you are guaranteed it will be taken care of. so email him ASAP
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about the music during simchas beis hashoevah. What a chutzpa!!
Of course, I am kidding.
Crazy !
And there are no rules on Halloween… welcome to America; that is just the way it goes. One day a year goyim can be as crazy as they want. If you can’t handle that, move to a third world country.
We do it to them throughout sukkos with simchas bais hashoavah , and on chanukah mitzva tanks blare music late into the night , so accept the fact they are having a party once a year its no big deal. i am sure you made up for your slepp today.
we do the same by simchas bais
When the jews (us) have their parties in september on the streets (ohh we call it “simchas beis hashoeva”) for a few nights straight with loud music for hours, did anyone think about the other residents of Crown Heights?? When a long long convoy of motorhomes (ohh we call it “mitzvah tanks”) is blocking traffic all the way to and from Manhattan on some day in the spring (ohh you mean yud alef nissan?) ok the bottom line is it gos both ways and we havw to be able to eat the same way we can dish it out so… Read more »
and when we have farbe’s and drunk ppl every Thursday night and screaming at 5 in the morning
but thats ok!!!!!!!!!!!!
great article Y. u should run for vaad hakol maybe some real change will happen
-a scant month ago we blasted music in the street for a whole week straight, all night long! How can we have the gall to complain when our neighbors celebrate their holiday one night?
I feel for this person, but you have to remember, that Tishrei and Simchas Beis Hashoeiva, simchas torah, is allot worse.
wow!!! very powerful !