Speaking
Out
Noisy Night
in Neighborhood
This
semester is off to a bad start with the loud music that emanated
from the new parking garage at 40th and Walnut Street on Sunday
evening, September 2 until midnight. As a resident living only two
doors down from the garage this was particularly disturbing. Around
10 p.m. my wife called the University Police to request their action
in this matter. After struggling to get beyond the dispatcher, the
sergeant, who could obviously hear the music over the phone agreed
it was loud and excessive. However, he could do nothing regarding
this because it was a "university-sanctioned" event. Since
when does "university-sanctioned" mean violation of noise
ordinances?
The
University might consider setting a good example in keeping noise
levels down especially at those properties that directly border
on the surrounding neighborhood. What makes this event especially
aggravating is other groups and students will now assume they too
have the right to generate loud noise in the neighborhood since
the police will not interfere, especially if they can get their
event defined as "university-sanctioned."
I
would like to see the University become an active agent in facilitating
noise abatement in the neighborhood, not a perpetrator. And when
the police are called, they will act in a positive and caring manner
and not make the concerned citizen caller feel like a criminal merely
for asking that the law be enforced. The Philadelphia noise ordinance
does not give any time limits: excessive noise at any time is subject
to violation.
Finally,
not all neighborhood groups speak for all of the residents of University
City. No one asked the couple who lives above me if they wanted
to be kept up, not only by the loud music, but also by their very
young child who was distressed by the noise. I would even hazard
to guess that some of the students in the affected area may have
appreciated a quiet Sunday evening.
--
John Andrews-Labenski, Electronics Engineer,
Dept.
of Psychology & Walnut St. Resident
NSO
Response
Let
us first apologize for the inconvenience that our New Student Orientation
(NSO) Dance Party caused those residents that live near the 40th
and Walnut Street Parking garage. We would also like to provide
a bit of background to the event on the evening of Sunday, September
2.
The
Dance Party was the culmination of what was a wonderful day of student
and community interaction. The day began with our first ever 40th
Street Festival, on the field adjacent to 40th Street, between Walnut
and Locust, for the freshmen class. The goal of Festival was to
introduce new students to the community to which they now belong.
Community organizations ranging from The Friends of Walnut West
Library to Spruce Hill Community Association gave their time to
introduce and seek out new student involvement in their "home
away from home,"West Philadelphia. We also introduced the freshmen
to local performing artists Denise King, a wonderful Jazz singer,
and the eclectic new music group, "The Beach Balls." The
entire event was catered by FreshGrocer with appetizers provided
by local 40th Street area restaurants, Izzy and Zoe's, Bitar's,
and Lee's Hoagies. This event was a real collaboration of the University
and the community. It was an effort, not only to introduce Penn
students to the surrounding community, but also to encourage them
to care about and feel a part of West Philadelphia.
All
our social events during NSO are also meant to provide students
with positive programming to foster a sense of responsibility as
members of the community in general.
As
with the Festival, the dance party was a reinforcement of the idea
that 40th Street is not a border between two worlds, but a place
of dynamic interaction and possibilities for Penn and the community
to blend and collaborate.
Again,
we apologize and assure you that we will address your concerns when
planning events.
--Sean
Vereen,
Aliya Ansari,
Rebecca MacDowell,
Christine Jereb,
NSO Coordinators
Penn Police
Response
I
wanted to provide you the perspective from the Penn Police Department.
The event in question was hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost
for University Life to provide some 2,000 freshmen a safe and festive
event during the Labor Day weekend.
The
dance party held on the fourth floor of the parking garage at 40th
and Walnut Streets began at approximately 9 p.m. The music for the
event concluded at approximately 11:50 p.m. According to our records,
Mrs. Andrews-Labenski's call was received by our Communications
Center at 10:51 p.m. During the entire three hours that this event
was occurring, the only complaint of loud noise received by the
UPPD was the telephone call made by Mrs. Andrews-Labenski. Normally,
when the UPPD receives complaints of loud parties or loud music,
we receive multiple calls regarding the same source of the noise
or music. As this was a sanctioned event, we were well aware that
the music was to end at a predetermined time. This is not the case
for most noise complaints received by our agency.
I
can assure you that our officers are sensitive to the needs of our
community, and we actively work to facilitate noise abatement, when
legitimately warranted. When reports of noise or loud music are
received, our officers investigate, and if the noise level is determined
to be excessive, those responsible are asked to keep the noise to
a level that will not disrupt their surrounding neighbors. Upon
receipt of subsequent calls to the same location, a police supervisor
is dispatched to evaluate the situation. The supervisor makes a
determination to either allow an event to continue, or he or she
instructs officers to close the party or event down.
Mr.
Andrews-Labenski's statement that "
the police
not
make the concerned citizen caller feel like a criminal" is
particularly disturbing to me. I have listened to the audiotape
of Mrs. Andrews-Labenski's telephone call to our agency and I can
state without hesitation that she was treated professionally and
with civility by our PennComm staff.
Please
understand that this event was planned to occur on a Sunday evening
followed by a holiday to minimize the impact upon the residential
community. Evidently, the impact was minimal, as Mrs. Andrews-Labenski's
call was the only complaint received. I assure you that had the
level of noise from this event (or any event for that matter) risen
to a level that had caused widespread annoyance and disruption within
the neighborhood, our officers would have adjusted the situation
accordingly.
--
Thomas A. Rambo, Chief of Police, Penn Police
Speaking
Out welcomes reader contributions. Short, timely letters on University
issues will be accepted by Thursday at noon for the following Tuesday's
issue, subject to right-of-reply guidelines. Advance notice of intention
to submit is appreciated. --Eds
Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 3, September 11, 2001
|