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Get Off Your Butts and Protest, Please!

05 November 2009 — by Jan V. Ramsey

I put out a little teaser in today’s WB about a noise ordinance that’s going to be voted on by the New Orleans City Council on November 19, 2009. It seems that Councilman James Carter introduced this ordinance in October with little fanfare. The ordinance severely limits “noise” from music throughout the city. Every club owner and music lover should be concerned about this. I am attempting to get more information about what New Orleans currently allows and what’s standard in other cities. The ordinance seems to be geared primarily to music in the French Quarter: no surprise!

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Strings12

Hi there, my name is acai berryThanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.

NeilOrangepeel

loudness really seems to be a subjective thing, while in Hood River, Ore. bands played at a level that could be heard well ,yet one was able to hear what was being said to them by their neighbors .Generally musicians don't like to turn their amps down causing the noise problem.But these ordinances are always too imposing on whats really happening. Street musicians playing can easly exceed some of the set sound level limits

orleansnj

I never understand why people seem to conveniently forget that music is one of the very things that makes New Orleans unique, it is a major economic driver and part of the economy, as well as a livelihood for many, many, many residents. It is ridiculous and will put many clubs out of business, hampering revenue from these clubs and sales taxes at a time when the City is already in desperate need of revenue, it will hamper tourist spending and put many, many more people into the ranks of the unemployed. Sad. Jan - I wholeheartedly agree with you.

Cindy Scott

Go to the link below and register your protest with the New Orleans City Council:

http://www.nolacitycouncil.com/comments.asp

Jeaux

WTF??? CARTER is the lunatic!!! Did you see this?

"For purposes of enforcing this article against an offending property or juridical person, any owner, lessor, lessee, or supervisor of a premise, however temporary; and/or any performer, person playing live or recorded music, or any person having control of sound levels or amplification devices; and/or any business named on the occupational license, if applicable, and member or manager thereof, shall be solely and/or jointly responsible for compliance with this article and for any violations of this article."

Carter needs to move to a retirement community in Shreveport!

Jazz Lunatique

Please keep us updated on this, and is there any truth to the rumor that the city master plan will also severely limit the ability of establishments to have music?