April 1, 2012
Noise Free America
For immediate release
Contact:
Lori Dupont
[email protected]
Ted Rueter
877-NOISE-NO
[email protected]
Chapel Hill: Boise, Idaho has won this month’s Noisy Dozen award from Noise Free America for tolerating excessive noise at the Park Village apartment complex. Despite the persistent pleas of a resident, city officials, the police, and apartment management have done practically nothing to reduce noise and safeguard the well-being of the residents.
Lori Dupont is a long-term resident of the Park Village apartments. A diabetic, she is bombarded with noise from loud parties, boom cars, and motorcycles. She states, “I am scared to leave my room when the parties break out, because I have been threatened in the past and the noisemakers get very confrontational. Since September 2011, I have heard loud bass all day and all night long. The noise here is terrible. It shatters my nerves.”
Ms. Dupont has tried everything to deal with the constant noise: “I’ve tried wearing earplugs. I’ve tried playing the television and the radio. I keep a fan on all the time. I have never had to deal with anything like this. All I want is my right to sleep, which I have not had much since September, 2011 when this all started. I never knew how continuous loud noise would affect a person’s mind, body, and emotional well-being. All I do is cry and shake.”
Lori Dupont has also tried the legal system: “I’ve called the Boise police numerous times. They’re always very nice on the phone, but they never actually do anything.” She has also taken three individuals to court. They have all gotten a slap on the wrist.
She has also contacted the Park Village management many, many times–to no avail: “The manager made all sorts of promises, such as moving my noisy neighbors to the model unit. Nothing has ever happened. They did offer to move me to the second or third floor–after I repeatedly told them that my medical condition prevents me from walking up stairs; I need a first floor unit. I asked about letting me out of the lease; they refused. Now they won’t answer my e-mails or respond to my maintenance requests. I have over 140 e-mails with apartment management and the corporation. I am now blacklisted. The regional manager told the staff not to even talk with me unless it deals with paying the rent.”
Ms. Dupont is unable to move, because all of her money goes to medical treatment and a special diet related to her diabetes.
Noise Free America’s director, Ted Rueter, commented that “Lori Dupont’s situation in Boise is all too common. The police, elected officials, the courts, and property managers constantly turn a deaf ear to noise. They do seem to understand or care that noise is physically dangerous. Excessive noise is linked to sleep deprivation, hearing loss, an increased incidence of heart disease, and chronic fatigue. Noise can literally be lethal. Millions of people like Lori Dupont suffer physical and emotional damage because of the aggressive behavior of noisemakers and the indifference of public officials. The United States needs to address the increasing scourge of noise.”
Lori Dupont concluded, “I cry and get stressed out every night before I come home. I never knew noise could be so damaging. I feel all alone. I hope that my plea for peace and quiet is heard. Until someone hears my voice, I sit in my own silent burning hell, called Park Village.”
Noise Free America is a national non-profit organization devoted to noise reduction. Past “winners” of the Noisy Dozen award include the Oakland police department and South Lake Tahoe.