Sleeping with "Pharoh's Fury" Night #2

By a narrow 5-4 vote the City Council voted to locate a Carnival on Federal Street, closing one lane of traffic on Washington Street at the critical southbound feed from Bridge Street and closing a sidewalk adjacent the train station. Even councilors in favor agreed this is not 'optimum' and some stated their support was in response to the request from the chief of police. When asked by councilor Elaine Milo, the chief admitted there was no metric or research behind the department's assertions the carnival is necessary to reduce vandalism and other negative effects of packs of roving teens too young to enjoy Salem's bars. The assertions that there are plenty of privately provided activities was ignored.

Pharoh's Fury is a thrill ride that operates 100 feet from our first floor bedroom. Saturday was the 2nd night of operation. In response to neighbor complaints about noise 6-7pm the chief toured the area and rightly concluded the noise was from teenage screams and thus could not be controlled. Also uncontrollable are the vibrations and mechanical support sounds of the heavy equipment supporting the rides,ng with the strobe effect of ride lighting-- regrettably we do not have blackout drapes in our bedroom as they have not been needed until the City moved this unwanted neighbor into our midst. (see our bulletin board post for Sleeping with Top Gun Night #1).

Shift workers who normally go to bed at 9pm for 4am rising will have to go with less sleep until this disaster ends.

Presumably ward 2 councilor Christine Madore, who voted in favor of the carnival location and lives another 100 feet further away, goes to bed later and is able to sleep later than shift workers that are busy supporting the October crowds.

Praying for high winds tonight that might require a shutdown of the rides.

Do you regularly drive Bridge Street/Washington southbound? How's that working out with the loss of lane and train-delivered visitors trying to find a sidewalk to get into town?