6 NOVEMBER 25, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
NYPD should do more about noise complaints: Holden
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Councilman Robert Holden is calling
on the NYPD to take noise complaints
more seriously since he said
it has been a persistent and unresolved
problem in his district.
Holden oft en gets complaints from
constituents about late-night parties
or neighbors, but he sprang into action
when he experienced it himself. The
councilman said he was up into the
early hours of the morning when one of
his neighbors blasted music until 3 a.m.
Instead of using his connections as a
city councilman to stop the party, Holden
decided to call 311 as any of his constituents
would. He said the police failed to
take any meaningful action.
“I didn’t want to invoke my standing as
a Council member. I wanted to experience
what my constituents experience,”
Holden said. “And I sure did; I got a good
lesson.”
Noise code penalties range from fi nes
of $250 to $1,000. However, in Holden’s
case, no fi nes were administered to the
neighbors on his block.
“Why are we giving people who are disturbing
the peace the benefi t of the doubt?
Summons them. That’s the only message
they are going to understand. Anybody
so callous as to play music that loud — you
have to pay the price,” Holden said.
Holden said he plans on introducing
legislation that will increase fi nes.
“When people can’t sleep, it aff ects
their health,” Holden said. “I learned that
the hard way.”
In an eff ort to ensure the NYPD takes
complaints seriously, Holden requested
the commanding offi cer of the 104th
Precinct provide the number of noise
complaints and summonses issued in
2020 and 2021.
“My constituents take quality-of-life
issues seriously and expect the city to
be responsive,” Holden wrote in a letter
to Commanding Offi cer Louron Hall.
“Understanding the numbers will allow
us to assess whether or not our noise
mitigation strategies are working year
over year. Working together, we will
reduce unnecessary noise throughout
the district.”
NYPD told QNS that the 104th Precinct
takes “strict enforcement actions” when
anyone is found to be responsible for
excessive noise.
“During the year of 2021, the 104th
Precinct issued 60 summonses relating to
noise compared to one summons in 2020.
Fift y-six of the summonses were issues in
regards to noise from vehicles, two summonses
were issued in regards to noise
from the street/sidewalk, one summons
issued in regards to residential noise and
one summons issued in regards to commercial
noise,” the NYPD statement said.
“The 104th Precinct takes all quality-of-life
complaints seriously and will continue to
monitor and address all complaints.”
The councilman has a history of prioritizing
quality-of-life issues. He said this
tracks back to his time as the Juniper
Park Civic Association president.
“We lead the city in 311 complaints,
and I’m proud of that,” Holden said. “As
a civic president, that’s how we maintain
a neighborhood people want to live in;
that’s why we can walk the streets at
night and feel safe. Quality of life is by
far number one in my offi ce.”
Holden also recently introduced a
bill that would target illegal pop-up
parties aft er multiple gatherings in the
old Midville Hardware store resulted
in two shootings and dozens of noise
complaints.
“We’re seeing this illegal activity starting
up,” Holden said. “It’s taking over our
commercial districts and aff ecting our
quality of life. Not only our quality with
noise but also with crime.”
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
To teach students about the importance
of civic engagement
in their communities, Queens
Borough President Donovan Richards
announced the launch of “Civics in the
Classroom” at Bayside High School on
Tuesday, Nov. 16.
Richards and Bayside High School
Principal Tracy Martinez hosted a
discussion with hundreds of students
about the importance of voting, being
involved in one’s community and much
more.
The Civics in the Classroom
initiative supplements existing
curriculum by connecting with high
school students across the borough
about civic engagement.
Richards says he hopes to not only
educate students about civic engagement,
but also empower them to be the changemakers
the city and country needs.
“The youngest among us are courageously
leading nationwide movements
around systemic discrimination, gun
violence, voting rights, climate change
and more, giving us all so much hope for
the future of our society,” Richards said.
“But there are still far too many young
people who are unaware of their power
or unsure of their place in our city.”
The initiative is led by Richards’
Civic Engagement Coordinator Tim
Chubinidze.
Civics in the Classroom will visit
one Queens high school each week and
include interactive presentations and
quizzes about the roles of local and citywide
elected offi cials’ offi ces, how to address
quality-of-life issues through city
government and the signifi cance of civic
involvement. The initiative will continue
aft er NYC schools’ Thanksgiving recess.
Meanwhile, Richards’ Civic Engagement
Committee, made up of dozens
of community stakeholders, has been
active throughout the year.
On behalf of the borough president,
the committee has sponsored various
public-facing events such as three
separate ranked-choice voting training
sessions this spring and a virtual
redistricting town hall this fall, as well
as regular tabling appearances across
Queens to meet with borough residents
in their own communities.
School administrators who would
like more information or wish to
participate in the borough president’s
Civics in the Classroom initiative can
contact Chubunidze via info@queensbp.
org.
Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards announces the
launch of “Civics in the Classroom.”
Courtesy of Richards’ offi ce
Councilman Robert Holden QNS fi le photo
BP launches ‘Civics in the Classroom’ student engagement initiative
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