Wash Heights, Inwood Residents Form 'Noise Violence' Task Force

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Inwood and Washington Heights residents announced Monday they are putting together a community-led task force to combat "noise violence" in the two neighborhoods.

The formation of the task force is getting spearheaded by members of the group WaHI and Inwood for Respectful Decibel Levels.

Community Board 12 member Tanya Bonner first discussed the task force at an Aug. 4 virtual public hearing on noise pollution within the community. Bonner is also a community advocate for the WaHI and Inwood for Respectful Decibel Levels group.

"The Task Force must be overseen by the community to ensure accountability from city enforcement agencies, elected officials and the Community Board in helping to create solutions that have been historically lacking for years," the noise level group said in a news release Monday.

The group also called on city agencies, elected officials, and Community Board 12 to support them in their effort with the community-led task force.

Community Board 12, which encompasses Washington Heights and Inwood, has had the most noise-related complaints filed to 311 out of all the community boards in Manhattan during 2020, according to data supplied by the Manhattan Borough President's Office.

The total includes 17,800 street noise complaints, 3,700 illegal fireworks complaints, 9,100 residential noise complains, and 4,400 vehicle noise complaints, according to the news release.

The WaHI and Inwood for Respectful Decibel Levels group never specifies exactly what constitutes "noise violence."

"Excessive noise pollution is a problem that the district has been subjected to for decades, reaching a crescendo this May until present," the WaHI and Inwood for Respectful Decibel Levels group said in the news release. "With problems such as all-night illegal fireworks, late-night residential sidewalk street parties, booming music from parked cars, drag racing, and even a live stripping routine that drew criticism on Twitter."

WaHI and Inwood for Respectful Decibel Levels was founded in May on Facebook by community member Claudia Schaer. The group currently has over 600 members.