Letter To City Government From An Angry Resident

 

 

March 26, 2008

 

City Manager Benoit

Mayor Van Dusen

Chief Deu Pree  (footnote 1)

 

Sirs:

 

I have lived on the corner of 15th Street and Lexington for the past three years.  During that time, the traffic and noise from cars, trucks, motorcycles and people who drive cars without mufflers has been escalating steadily.

 

When my family comes to visit, they complain about not being able to sleep peacefully because of the noise from traffic on 15th Street.  At times it is so loud I can’t even hear my television.  During the summer months, the Harley Davidson motorcycles (footnote 2) that are on their way to the Astoria Column constantly rev up their engines as they climb the hill.  It becomes so loud and vibrates so much, that my windows rattle!

 

As soon as people turn the corner from Jerome Avenue on to 15th, they step down on their accelerator and speed up the hill.  In the three years I have lived in Astoria, I have only seen one city police car parked on Lexington patrolling the area, and have actually never seen anyone stopped for speeding on 15th.

 

I work at the college and walk to and from my home to work.  I stand on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street at the cross walk while cars whiz by.  Rarely will a driver stop to let me pass.  There should be a sign on both sides of the street that there is a pedestrian crosswalk ahead.

 

It becomes very aggravating, especially when there is a storm with rain and wind, that no one will slow down and let me walk across the street.  It’s even more discouraging that the city does not patrol 15th Street more often to catch speeders or those who fail to stop for pedestrians in a cross-walk.

 

I implore those who work in city government and in the police department to take into consideration my right to peace and quiet and that those who drive illegal vehicles without mufflers at all hours of the day and night, and speed in front of my home, are disturbing the peace in my domicile.  They should be stopped and fined for breaking the law.

 

Respectfully,

 

Name Withheld at Request of Correspondent

 

 

 

Footnotes:

 

1.     Chief Deu Pree is now retired. Excessive vehicle noise & speeding traffic were problems in Astoria during his term in office. As noted in the above letter, the problems still exist.

 

2.     Mayor Van Deusen, who rides a Harley Davidson motorcycle, has been quiet as a church mouse regarding any comments about vehicle noise complaints.