policy lab: combating vehicular noise
DESCRIPTION
Students seeking an MS degree in Urban Policy Analysis and Management are required to take "Laboratory in Issue Analysis". This course is an applied policy-analysis experience in which students work together in teams of four or five to resolve a policy issue for a public or nonprofit decision-maker, in this case, a report issued to Councilwoman Gale Brewer. Learn more here: http://www.newschool.edu/milano/subpage.aspx?id=19652TRANSCRIPT
Citizen’s Committeefor New York City: Combating Vehicular Noise
Olivia Fru
Chandler Griffith
Angelina Lopez
Minerva Muzquiz
Kelly Singer
Central Policy Issue
What strategies can Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC) recommend to residents to increase community group involvement in combating vehicular noise in New York City?
Objective
To devise a strategy that will:
Effectively mobilize community resources to minimize vehicular noise pollution
Be executable by resident-led efforts
Adhere to the mission of CCNYC
Recommendation
CCNYC should recommend:
the creation of a Social Networking Website to engage residents and establish a platform where they can learn about noise pollution in their neighborhood, document noise, and organize based on location and interest
Agenda Introduction
What strategies can Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC) recommend to community groups?
Methodology and Assumptions
Analysis of Vehicular Noise in New York City
Vehicular noise is a unique quality of life issue for New Yorkers
Measures of Evaluation, Strategies and Analysis of Noise Code
Enforcement of vehicular noise complaints is not an agency priority
Explanation of Strategies for Community Groups
Our strategies focused on bringing awareness to behavior to combat vehicular noise
Analysis of Strategies, Recommendation, Next Steps
Create a Social Networking Website to engage residents and establish a organizational platform
Kelly
Minnie
Angelina
Chandler
Olivia
Research Methodology
Reviewed current legislation to understand Noise Code regulations and policies
Analyzed agency data to determine most frequent vehicular noise complaints
Interviewed city department officials regarding legislation and enforcement policy
Researched best practices in community organizing and for mitigating noise pollution
Established measures of evaluation in accordance with CCNYC’s mission
Evaluated strategies to be implemented by a community group
Assumptions
An increase in 3-1-1 complaints does not correspond with greater enforcement of noise code violations
Because 3-1-1 does not differentiate between different types of vehicular noise, we cross-referenced various types of enforceable noise with a public opinion survey
Scope and size of projects to be implemented is dependent on the resources and capacity of various community groups
Agenda Introduction
What strategies can Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC) recommend to community groups?
Methodology and Assumptions
Analysis of Vehicular Noise in New York City
Vehicular noise is a unique quality of life issue for New Yorkers
Measures of Evaluation, Strategies and Analysis of Noise Code
Enforcement of vehicular noise complaints is not an agency priority
Explanation of Strategies for Community Groups
Our strategies focused on bringing awareness to behavior to combat vehicular noise
Analysis of Strategies, Recommendation, Next Steps
Create a Social Networking Website to engage residents and establish a organizational platform
Kelly
Minnie
Angelina
Chandler
Olivia
Noise is unwanted sound
Sound intensity in decibels (db)
Sound
140 Fireworks, Plane taking off
120 Thunder
100 Electric drill
80 Ringing telephone, Vacuum cleaner
50 Normal conversation
30 Soft whisper at 5 meters
10 Breathing
0 Threshold of hearingNote: The decibel scale is not a simple, linear scale. An increase of ten on the decibel scale corresponds to the intensity of sound increasing by a factor of ten. For example, a sound that registers 80 decibels is ten times the intensity of one at 70 decibels.
Vehicular Noise exceeds standard safety threshold
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
dB
A
mea
sure
men
t Motorcycle
Car Alarm
Busy Street
Truck
Horn Honking
Car Stereo
Highway
Source: Center for Hearing and Communication
Vehicular noise is a unique quality of life issue and greater nuisance for New Yorkers than to residents nationwide
Never Rarely Sometimes Often Source: Bronzaft and Van Ryzin, “Neighborhood Noise and Its
Consequences”
Truck back-up beeps
Garbage pickup or delivery trucks
Sirens from police cars, fire trucks, etc.
Car stereos or boom cars
Car alarms
1 2 3 4
1.932.1
2.462.57
2.72.72
2.852.912.97
How often are you bothered by the fol-lowing sources of noise in your neigh-
borhood?
3-1-1 noise complaints are an indicator of public response, but do not indicate actual noise levels
The Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT) categorizes vehicular noise complaints as:
horn honking
engine idling
loud music or stereo
Source: NYC DOITT
Agenda Introduction
What strategies can Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC) recommend to community groups?
Methodology and Assumptions
Analysis of Vehicular Noise in New York City
Vehicular noise is a unique quality of life issue for New Yorkers
Measures of Evaluation, Strategies and Analysis of Noise Code
Enforcement of vehicular noise complaints is not an agency priority
Explanation of Strategies for Community Groups
Our strategies focused on bringing awareness to behavior to combat vehicular noise
Analysis of Strategies, Recommendation, Next Steps
Create a Social Networking Website to engage residents and establish a organizational platform
Kelly
Minnie
Angelina
Chandler
Olivia
CCNYC is invested in empowering residents to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods
CCNYC “stimulates and supports self-help and civic action”:
Award bi-annual grants, ranging from $500 to $3,000
Projects are resident-led and volunteer-based
Projects expected to be implemented in 3 to 6 months
Our proposed strategies are designed to enable community groups to combat vehicular noise
Maintain status quo of referring to 3-1-1 system
Create a Public Awareness Campaign to educate residents on the effects of noise pollution
Launch a Cell-phone Application to collect, record and store noise code violations
Offer Workshops on Noise pollution and Legislative Petitioning to mobilize residents
Establish a Social Networking Website to engage residents and create a base for community action
Measures of Evaluation are in accordance with CCNYC’s grant requirements
Noise Code: Existing policy for sustaining healthy ambient levels in New York City
A revised Noise Code was signed into law in 2005, aiming to creating greater city-wide compliance with the code
The revision was the first major overhaul in 30 years
Goals of Noise Code:
Protect public health and welfare
Foster convenience and comfort of residents
Prevent Injury to human, plant and animal Life
Noise Code:Vehicle regulations applies only in areas where speed limit is 35 MPH or less
Horn honking is not permitted, except as a warning in situations of “imminent danger”
Code prohibits excessive sound from muffler, exhaust or stereo of vehicles operating on public right of way
Excessive sound is defined as :
Vehicle Type Plainly Audible Distance
Vehicles less than 10,000 lbs (Cars) 150 ft or more
Vehicles more than 10,000 lbs (Trucks) 200 ft or more
Motorcycles 200 ft more or more
Noise Code Enforcement:Vehicular noise violations are not an agency priority
Jurisdiction of the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Noise complaints are received via NYC 3-1-1 phone system
Vehicular noise complaints are transferred to local police precinct for investigation
Source: NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
Agenda Introduction
What strategies can Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC) recommend to community groups?
Methodology and Assumptions
Analysis of Vehicular Noise in New York City
Vehicular noise is a unique quality of life issue for New Yorkers
Measures of Evaluation, Strategies and Analysis of Noise Code
Enforcement of vehicular noise complaints is not an agency priority
Explanation of Strategies for Community Groups
Our strategies focused on bringing awareness to behavior to combat vehicular noise
Analysis of Strategies, Recommendation, Next Steps
Create a Social Networking Website to engage residents and establish a organizational platform
Kelly
Minnie
Angelina
Chandler
Olivia
Public Awareness Campaign: Educates residents on noise pollution effects
Public Health Quality of Life
Best Practices from Anti-Smoking Campaigns
Successful public awareness campaign follow these guidelines:1. Research, write, translate set of talking points
2. Draft press release
3. Pitch 15 media outlets
4. Secure 3 to 4 stories
5. Media Monitoring
6. Answer queries from editors/producers
A campaign would focus on promoting quality of life issues: Public Safety Peace and Quiet
Public Awareness Campaign:Targets a wide audience
Public Awareness Campaign:Fails to offer opportunities for citizen action
Cell Phone Application: Make social ills visible and tangible
http://rentsleuth.com/
App uses heat-map technology to display graffiti data.
Cell Phone Application: Maps complaints and tracks resolutions
App uses cell phone technology to all users to upload graffiti incident reports, photos and videos. Utilizes Google maps
and geographic tagging.
http://graffiti.fanz.in/new-york
Noise Application Heat-map display to visually represent vehicular
noise violations
User generated and interactive
Temporal and geographic tagging to track trends in noise
Option 1: Hire professional software developer to create new application
Option 2: Freelance web developer to create a website that will leverage existing Applications
Cell Phone Application:Empowers residents to collect and disseminate noise data
Cell Phone Application: Requires high degree of expertise and/or cost may exceed grant allowance
Section 1 Sound Facts
Section 2 Science from Sound
Section 3
Noise and Our Neighbors
Section 4 Sound Survey
Vehicular Noise Pollution Workshops: Are informative, engaging and adaptable
Level 1
Allows participants to learn about noise pollution and how they can protect their hearing
Level 2
Allows participants to develop critical analytical ability about noise pollution, civics, human heath and the environment
AgendaLegislative Petitioning Workshops: Empower citizens to enact change
Get NYPD and DOITT to incorporate noise complaints on 3-1-1 Online!
Currently, the 3-1-1 online and cell phone application features are not opened to noise complaints.
We need your help to open the lines of communication to better enforce vehicular noise.
Recipients:• NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly • DOITT Commissioner Carole Post
Neighborhood Listen
Add your personal message here.
Source: Human Rights Campaign
Noise Pollution and Legislative Petitioning Workshops: Fail to maximize community engagement
Social Networking Website:Uses existing platforms to engage a wide and growing audience
Social Networking Website: Is a platform for community organizing
Social Networking Website: Fosters long-term engagement of members
Social Networking Website: Is self-sustaining and provides for virtually unlimited growth
Agenda Introduction
What strategies can Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC) recommend to community groups?
Methodology and Assumptions
Analysis of Vehicular Noise in New York City
Vehicular noise is a unique quality of life issue for New Yorkers
Measures of Evaluation, Strategies and Analysis of Noise Code
Enforcement of vehicular noise complaints is not an agency priority
Explanation of Strategies for Community Groups
Our strategies focused on bringing awareness to behavior to combat vehicular noise
Analysis of Strategies, Recommendation, Next Steps
Create a Social Networking Website to engage residents and establish a organizational platform
Kelly
Minnie
Angelina
Chandler
Olivia
Analysis
Time Cost Feasibility Civic Engagement
Length ImpactCost to
Community Group
ExpertiseVolunteer
Based
Max. People
Involved
PA Campaign
1-3 mo. Short Term$500- $1,000
High Yes Medium
Cell Phone App
4-6 mo. Long Term $5,000 High No/Yes Medium
Workshops 3 mo. Short Term$1,000-$3,000
Medium Yes Low
Social Networkin
g Site1-3 mo. Long Term
$1,000-$3,000
Medium Yes High
Recommendation
CCNYC should recommend:
the creation of a Social Networking Website to engage residents and establish a platform where they can learn about noise pollution in their neighborhood, document noise, and organize based on location and interest
Potential Next Steps for CCNYC
Develop internal criteria for technology-based grant applications
Establish a grant budget for projects
Publicize the issue of vehicular noise and potential grant opportunities
To community groups
To potential funders
Citizen’s Committeefor New York City: Enforcing the Noise Code
Olivia Fru
Chandler Griffith
Angelina Lopez
Minerva Muzquiz
Kelly Singer
Ambient noise level in NYC
Ambient Noise Quality Zone
Day-time Standards
(7am-10pm)
Night-time Standards
(10pm-7am)
Zone N-1 (Low density
residential)Leq=60 dB(A) Leq=50 dB(A)
Zone N-2 (High density
residential)Leq=65 dB(A) Leq-55 dB(A)
Source: New York City Noise Code*Standards are based on measurements for any one hour
Noise as a Public Health Issue
Short-term Effects Noised induced hearing loss (NIHL) Annoyance Aggression
Long-term Effects Sleep apnea Stress Cardiovascular disease and hypertension
"Calling noise a nuisance is like calling smog an inconvenience. Noise must be considered a hazard to the health of people everywhere.” – Dr. William H. Stewart, former U.S. Surgeon General
Public Health Continue
Highway or street traffic
Buses
Ice cream trucks, street vendors
Sirens from police cars, fire trucks
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.600.50
0.470.47
0.440.44
0.370.36
0.300.21
0.180.17
Correlation of noises with index of behavioral and emotional conse-
quences – New York City
Source: Bronzaft and Van Ryzin, “Neighborhood Noise and Its Consequences”
Social Media Statistics
By 2010, Generation Y (10-28 year olds) will outnumber both the Baby Boomer generation and Generation X. 96% of them have joined a social networking site1
Facebook has over 400 million users2
If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 3rd largest3
Country Population
1. China 1,306,313,800
2. India 1,080, 264,400
3. Facebook 400,000,000
4. United States of America 295,734, 100
Sources: Millenials Conference; Facebook; WorldAtlas.com
Strategy 3:Social Networking
Social Media Stat cont..
Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months2
iPhone applications hit 1 billion in 9 months3
Technology Years to Reach50 Million users1
Radio 38 years
TV 13 years
Internet 4 years
iPod 3 years
Sources: United Nations CyberSchoolBus; Facebook; Apple
Strategy 3:takeaway