Making a joyful noise

Asheville’s 24-hour, complaint-based noise ordinance is so confining and open-ended that it is systematically shutting down some of Asheville’s most positive community events. As a local entertainer and DJ, I have seen the options for dance parties and music events reduced considerably over noise considerations.

Call me crazy, but I consider holidays like Independence Day or New Year’s Eve to be special occasions when citizens allow each other to turn their music up and celebrate. This is unfortunately no longer the case. It is now up to your neighbors whether or not New Year’s Eve is a ripe time for your revelry. Perhaps they don’t celebrate New Year’s on Dec. 31, or maybe they don’t like your bumper stickers. All it takes is a phone call, and you’ll have the APD at your door. Are they testing for a certain decibel level? No. Is this a late-night consideration for people who have to wake up early? No, this is a 24-hour ordinance. If the officers can hear you when they pull up—laughing on your back porch or playing music in the middle of the day—you’ll be told to keep it down or be subject to fines.

Now, if you’re playing dance music in a warehouse, you’ll be lectured, asked for identification, intimidated and told that if they get another complaint, they’ll search all of your happy, dancing friends. Happy New Year! Or should I say, “S Novym Godom!”

In countries like Spain, days and even entire weeks are set aside for fantastic holiday celebrations. People toast in the streets. They laugh. They play. They dance. No one would consider shutting down the fun for one person’s phone call. This would only be the cause for more laughter, as it should be.

Most ironic are the noise complaints from the lofty and expensive condos downtown, just above the bars and places of entertainment. You people can’t be serious! You moved downtown, and you expect downtown to cater to your sensitivities? I’ve got two words for you: Try Hendersonville. Your nifty pad hasn’t succeeded in making you cool.

— J. Daley
Asheville

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10 thoughts on “Making a joyful noise

  1. Traveleh

    I can see you’re going to be one of those ad-hominickle attackers. Look here , if Asheville wanted a bunch of hooligans here, we would have have invited you . Us old timers who have been here all our lives are tired of you up-northers coming here and expecting to have your way with us. You think you’re smart, go back to new jersey!

  2. Trey

    Traveleh, go back to the AC-T forums please.

    Your butt buddies sgt cock and mtnbred are waiting for you.

  3. Excellent advice Trey, and I agree whole heartedly with the letter writer too. Sounds like the same folks who move beside a railroad then complain about the train whistle.

  4. quotequeen

    How good bad music and bad reasons sound when we march against an enemy!
    ~ Nietzsche

  5. Fallstaff

    I’m glad the APD enforces noise ordinances in town. I’d like to see them shut down those darned drum circles. What is this town coming to? We let a bunch speed fueled drum freaks turn downtown into a jungle?

  6. Traveleh:
    Why would anyone listen to your opinion, you can’t even come up with an original name.

    All:
    Can we ban the use of “ad hominem” in all versions; it shows up in every thread.

    Did I miss a “word of the day” calendar entry or what?

  7. Fallstaff

    travelah, how do you know it is a “her”? Another thing I’d like the cops to do. Ticket these Harley motorcycles in the summer if they got loud pipes. I’m sick of hearing them all over the Parkway and the road to Lake Lure.

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