The Yonkers City Council has voted to make Yonkers radically noisier.   Our new noise ordinance allows daytime noise levels of 85 decibels - loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage - and nighttime levels of 65 decibels, far exceeding health guidelines.

We, your constituents, demand the Council reverse this reckless decision.

Without public hearings or expert consultation, the Council made daytime noise limits EIGHT TIMES louder than before, while nighttime limits DOUBLED. This puts Yonkers drastically out of step with other cities, which are working to reduce noise pollution, not increase it. 

The health consequences are severe and well-documented. Excessive noise:

• Damages hearing and increases risk of heart disease
• Impairs children's learning and cognitive development
• Disrupts sleep and mental health
• Hits hardest in our most vulnerable communities

The Council made this dramatic change without:

• Consulting health experts or noise specialists
• Studying practices in other cities
• Holding public hearings
• Considering environmental justice impacts

We call on the Council to:

1. Immediately suspend the new ordinance
2. Hold public hearings with expert testimony
3. Develop a comprehensive noise control policy that protects public health
4. Return to science-based noise limits that align with regional standards

Yonkers deserves better than becoming Noisetown USA. Our health and quality of life depend on reasonable noise limits.

For more information and research on urban noise impacts, visit www.quieteryonkers.org

[Note: It has only recently come to light that serious procedural irregularities and unauthorized changes to the city code took place as part of the noise code amendment.  More about this very soon.]