Description
A group usually occupies the SW corner of Moore Square on Saturdays from around 1:30 to 4 or so Have no quarrel with the message or the messengers But their sound amplification system is TOO LOUD
The park patrons and surrounding businesses/residents are impacted It's an acoustic assault
Had this as an Open issue in March but closed it in May as the volume was decreased But need some help again getting their amp turned down from "11" Thanks !
8 Comments
Jack (Registered User)
Have been asked if I would like to close this issue since it has been open for more than 31 days.
If only I could...but the issue continues every Saturday afternoon. Others within our building have taken to calling the police to complain about the excessive level of noise that disrupts our afternoon from around 1 pm until 4:30 or later (once to 6 pm). Sometimes believe they have been asked to turn it down and do so until the police leave. And then it goes right back to the level it was at before.
But I'm going to leave this issue open here as documentation that residents, businesses (with outdoor diners), wedding/event attendees in Market Hall, those trying to enjoy Moore Square park are all heavily impacted by what we all believe is a violation of our noise ordinance which should prevent such acoustic intrusions.
And if it is the decision that the noise ordinance allows this, then we need to seriously examine that ordinance and amend it to the point where it does offer such protection to our city's residents.
Again, no quarrel with the message or the messengers. But the amplified delivery system they are using for HOURS each Saturday afternoon is TOO LOUD. Believe they are operating under the terms of a permit that was issued. Is there any mechanism to revoke that permit if repeated noise violations cause the police to have to respond each and every time they set up for the afternoon?
Jack (Registered User)
Positive feedback from last Saturday (11/13). Group was initially at full volume. No outside diners. Park was nearly empty.
However two officers arrived around 2 pm. Monitored the situation for a while, including what appeared to be use of devices for measuring decibel levels. After a while saw them approaching the group… and the decibel level dropped to a tolerable level and remained there for the rest of the afternoon! Outside dining resumed, park people hung out and did park things, we could hear our TV and nap. Group got its message out there. Everyone was happy.
Will see how this Saturday goes and close this item if we have a similar experience. Thanks!
Elise (Registered User)
Jack (Registered User)
They were indeed particularly loud on December 18, as Elise notes above.
Cannot close this issue as it is still very much an open issue. On a couple of occasions police have monitored their activity with what appear to be devices for measuring decibel levels, spoken to them, and the volume has been lowered to acceptable (still loud!) levels...at least until later in the afternoon when the volume goes right back up.
So although they clearly know by now the volume setting on their amplifier that is acceptable, they are NOT self-policing. Each Saturday afternoon begins with a full-volume blast. It is so loud that it is not even a functional means of communication for them as people shy away from the acoustic assault. Puts a real negative cloud over the entire subarea as the rhythm of the message is not one of love, but hate.
This weekly event needs active police monitoring and management. It is a clear violation of our noise ordinance and, again, they are NOT self-policing although they now surely know the limit they are purposely exceeding.
Please help the surrounding residents, businesses (including outdoor dining), event attendees (Market Hall and Moore Square), and those simply trying to enjoy an afternoon at the park. This performance goes on with multiple speakers for hours every Saturday afternoon.
Jack (Registered User)
Have been asked if I would like to close this issue opened last September. I am going to do so since the last few Saturdays have been quiet without this group. This may be related to other major events being recently staged at Moore Square on Saturdays.
However worth noting is that this group did not self-police their volume setting and will continue to require noise ordinance monitoring if they return.
Thanks to the police department for having the proper acoustic tech equipment to monitor the situation and providing the guidance this group requires. Surrounding businesses, sidewalk diners, park goers, and nearby residents all benefited.
Jack (Registered User)
Unfortunately still an open issue. Group returned this Saturday with a new wrinkle…loud music played during and between speakers. Worse than ever.
It appears that the main purpose of the assemblage is to video record for their YouTube channel. No interaction with those trying to navigate past and around them.
If this group is not going to be monitored for noise ordinance violations and are not self-policing suggest they be relocated to the SE corner of Moore Square where there are no residents, diners, businesses, nor tourist traffic for them to disrupt with their acoustic assault while performing from 1 pm to 7 pm every Saturday.
Help!
Jack (Registered User)
Have been asked again if I would like to close this issue, but unfortunately it remains a recurring problem. We did have four Saturdays of relief in July with no appearance by this group, presumably because of scheduled major events at Moore Square each of those Saturday afternoons.
However, they returned a couple of Saturdays ago again at full volume. Only improvement was that for this appearance they set up on the Martin Street frontage of the SW corner of Moore Square with speakers aimed northward instead of eastward when they set up on the Blount Street frontage. So less acoustic bounce off of the building on the north side of Blount Street made it seem a bit less intrusive.
Still too loud. This group requires monitoring for violation of the noise ordinance each time they appear.
Closed City of Raleigh 2 (Verified Official)