I think noise pollution is an interesting area that’s often overlooked when talking about the environmental issues in New York City. I liked how this article broke down noise pollution by source, neighborhood, day of week, and even time of day. The statistic showing more complaints on Saturday mornings than on Sunday mornings leads me to speculate why that’s the case, but the statistic that Midtown is the noisiest neighborhood was no surprise to me. I got kind of irritated when I read that people call to complain about things like air conditioners and barking dogs…it’s like…really? I have a theory of my own that majority of the people that call 311 to complain about noise are not native New Yorkers. They’re probably people from other parts of the country or the world that haven’t really grasped the meaning of “the city that never sleeps” just yet.
Agreeing to live in New York is like a silent contract. People like to be selective regarding what they do and don’t like about the city’s constant buzz. Everyone loves the fact that they can get takeout at 3AM but choose to get annoyed when cars are honking and trains are running 24/7. I feel like native New Yorkers for the most part are, or at least should be, sort of numb to the noises of New York. It’s something you have to learn to phase out and become numb to because it’s never going to stop. If you’re annoyed about construction noises waking you up then yeah that sucks but maybe invest in some ear plugs? Or if the train wakes you up early in the morning how about next time you choose not to reside across the street from the station? Maybe I’m coming off as a little insensitive but if you call 311 to complain about a conversation that’s too loud for your liking, you should probably relocate to Kansas. While I think it’s a bit unnecessary for people to complain about noise pollution in regard to sources like ice cream trucks, I can definitely acknowledge that noise pollution can inhibit functions in local animals and maybe even affect other areas of New York wildlife.
