Petition to Rectify Noise Code Laws in NYC to include religious institutions

We are requesting that policy be put in place so that religious institutions in the greater NYC area are no longer exempt from adhering to the noise code laws required of the rest of the city.

We are not challenging anyone's right to practice their religion nor is this an attempt to supress anyone's right to free speech. This is an environmental issue, not a religious one. This is about the outdoor amplification and all citizens rights to peace and quiet within the confines of their own home .Unfortunately, some institutions continue to far exceed a reasonable decibel level in consideration of their immediate neighbors’ requests resulting in contentious and divisive relationships within our communities.

Amplification is unregulated for religious institutions as they are completely exempt from noise code laws. This seems to be in direct opposition to the 1868 14th Amendment, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States". In essence, we all have a constitutional right to freedom of religion and freedom from religion.

It is not a tenet of any religion to electronically amplify as they have thrived for hundreds if not thousands of years prior to its' invention. Traditionally, church bells, sirens, and calls to prayer were not amplified yet it has somehow become their "right" taking precedence over the community members' right to peace and quiet within our homes. This is clearly putting religious agendas over civil law which is contrary to our Constitution.

With all of the technological advancements available to us today(radio transmission and cell phone service provided by religious institutions), it doesn’t seem right that immediate neighbors to religious institutions be subjected to this sometimes torturously loud invasion several times a day and well into the evening.

A reasonable compromise would be to instill decibal level limits for all religious institutions' outdoor amplification systems. A realistic strategy to enforce this new code would allow all religions to amplify outdoors one day a week (Fridays for Jews and Muslims, Sundays for Christians,etc.) and predetermined high holy days for all. This policy would only affect very few institutions as typically this is what "good neighbors" are already doing.

Please ask our policy makers and their religious constituents to stop twisting an environmental issue into a religious one. Politicians are now afraid to address this issue for fear of losing large religious voting blocks. In addition, please encourage them to stop allowing religious law to supersede our civil rights as stated in the United States Constitution.

To this end, we ask Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Council to please consider rectifying the Noise Code Laws to include all religious institutions.

 Please note that this is open to EVERYONE. New York's legislation has often paved the way for other states and countries. Ultimately,we hope to have a more mutually respectful, peaceful, and quiet environment-worldwide.