New Haven Independent

Noise complaints dominated conversation at Tuesday’s Downtown/ Wooster Square Management Meeting in City Hall. With the warm weather, noise has been “horrific” in downtown’s Ninth Square, “especially with the advent of a couple new night spots,” said Andy Orefice, the management team’s chair. A vexed Yale graduate student, who appeared frustrated to the point of moving out, chimed in in agreement.

Complaints were no surprise to New Haven Police Sgt. Martin Tchakirides (pictured), who supervises the downtown district. Police have had “a lot of complaints recently from residents in the Ninth Square,” especially near Chapel Street’s Salty Dog Saloon, where bikers on Japanese bikes or Harleys were “doing burn-outs” up the street, making huge skid marks in Easter weekend revelry. Cops found skid marks of up to 27 feet, as well as a few figure-eights on the road. Tchakirides said police would be bringing their motorcycle unit to crack down on excessive motorcycle noise.

Tchakirides said while complaints pour in about club-goers making noise outside clubs (mostly because smoking is banned inside), most bars are in compliance with the city noise ordinance. In extreme cases, when clubs leave their doors open or when eager DJ’s crank the volume up to new levels, cops intervene.

Once, cops responded to a complaint from the Omni Hotel. One officer went up to the complainant’s room while the other stood down at the club guiding the volume switch. The two cops talked it through until the booming was back at acceptable levels. “Good — now take a black marker and write it on the dial,” said Tchakirides.

“That’s community policing!” applauded Orefice.

Tchakirides admitted, however, that noise complaints were near the “bottom of the barrel” on cops’ priority list. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest nights for more serious crime, he said. And as much as he’d like to help — he passed out his nextel number to noise-weary residents and pleaded, “Don’t give up!” — the noise ordinance isn’t much of a powerful tool. To enforce it, LCI officials must measure the decibel level, send a letter to offenders, then give them a chance to change their ways. At worst, they incur a $100 fine, explained LCI rep Lee Roberts. That’s not a lot.

Anyway, barring exceptional bike stunt ruckus, club noise is just part of living downtown. “That’s one of the challenges of living in a mixed residential and entertainment district,” said Lt. Peter Reichard. Alderwoman Bitsie Clark seemed to agree: “We’ve knocked ourselves out to make this a center where people come to enjoy themselves.” In some ways, the noise is a sign of success. “Ten years ago, we did not have these noise complaints.”

Still, residents sought some solution to make living more tolerable. Especially when drinkers pour into streets, and linger there, after closing time. Someone had an idea he’d seen in Portland, Maine: How about street sweepers spurting water to shoo the lingerers away? Not a chance, said Tchakirides.

The half-dozen residents and two cops present finally settled on a plan: to have neighbors sit down with bar owners and talk it out. The idea worked last year, said Clark. Club owners were more aware of nearby noise levels, and neighbors felt better knowing there were cops working outside the clubs (13 private duty, uniformed cops currently man the clubs, according to Tchakirides). “We have to have this meeting,” he urged.