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

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

Without meaningful public hearings or consultation with health or public policy experts, 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. 

We thank Council Members Merante and Breen who voted against the ordinance.  We thank Council Member Pineda Isaac who has shown the courage to reconsider her vote.  And we respectfully urge Council Members Rubbo and Diaz, and Council President Bellamy Collins, to reconsider your position. Won't you even call for a new hearing to evaluate the consequences of the vastly higher noise limits?

The health impact of noise is 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

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

The Council is capable of better decision making.  In 2005, when the previous noise ordinance was instituted, the Council worked with leading regional noise experts to create well thought out noise policies.

In 2023, a single Council Member, to reward a large donor, quietly pushed through the code changes, backed by deceptive arguments that got the votes of other Council Members who were not well prepared. And now the same Council Members refuse to face the facts and correct their mistake.

The city will suffer as a result. 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

Serious procedural irregularities and unauthorized changes to the city code took place when this ordinance was codified.  Why is it in any way OK for the city to tolerate this serious legislative irregularity?