July 1, 2003
Noise Free America
For immediate release
Contact:
Patrice Thomas
[email protected]
Ted Rueter
877-NOISE-NO
[email protected]
Madison: Savannah, Georgia is the winner of July’s Noisy Dozen award from Noise Free America for allowing an avalanche of boom cars to threaten the health and quality of life of its citizens. While Savannah presents itself as a lovely, serene, Southern city, she holds a deadly secret of drugs, crime, and noise.
Savannah is the home of songwriter Johnny Mercer, who wrote “Blues in the Night.” Unfortunately, these days Savannah is better known for its constant “Booms in the Night.”
Patrice Thomas, a Savannah resident and a registered nurse, commented that “Savannah booms in the night and booms in the day. One afternoon last week, I counted 44 times that we heard boom cars invading the peace and quiet of our home–and it’s far worse at night! It’s no wonder that so many people are moving to the countryside. Any real estate professional will tell you that a quiet neighborhood adds significant value to your home. Boom car and loud exhaust thugs are robbing the value of people’s homes!”
Nurse Thomas also noted that “boom car companies sell their wares by promoting delinquency, bragging about the health risks of noise, and exploiting women. A recent ad for Pioneer Audio states, ‘Your neighborhood could use a little wake up’ and ‘Your neighbors won’t just hear you coming; they’ll feel you, too.’ JBL speakers promise ‘bone-crushing bass’ that will ‘send your neighbors running for cover.’ Corwin-Vega boasts that its speakers ‘shake the living and wake the dead.’ No doubt the constant thumping and pounding disturbs the peace of Mr. Mercer and his neighbors at Savannah’s historic Boneventure Cemetery.”
Thomas also noted a religious reason to oppose thunderous noise: “The deliberate assault from cars with low-frequency noise violates the sanctity that God has given to human beings,” she said. “My heart aches for all the people who no longer have quiet time, to pray, to rest, to meditate, and to love.”
Mark Huber stated that “noise from boom cars and the deep rumble of ‘performance exhausts’ on hot rots and motorcycles disrupt the soundscape and distract attention. They drown out the sounds that could alert citizens to danger, including terrorism.”
Huber also stated that “I agree with Robert Hightower, Georgia’s homeland security task force coordinator, who said, ‘The eyes and ears of our citizens remain an invaluable weapons against any terrorist threat, anytime, anywhere.’ Mr. Hightower should declare a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against noise that could mask the sounds of terrorist attacks.”
Savannah, like thousands of other American communities, is up against a deeply entrenched and well-hidden network of enemies. Car stereo companies have product placement agreements with Universal Studios (producer of “2Fast/2Furious”). Primedia Corporation promotes the “living loud” lifestyle in over 40 car stereo and hot rod magazines. The Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association (MERA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) actively tamper with noise legislation in states and municipalities, through a network of hot rod clubs and car stereo retailers.
Ted Rueter, Noise Free America’s director, commented that “President Bush recently said that ‘unwanted telemarketing calls are intrusive, they are annoying, and they are all too common.’ Bush signed legislation creating a national ‘Do Not Call’ list. I applaud his statement and his action. Now what we need,” Rueter added, “is a national ‘Do Not Boom’ list. Unwanted booms from boom cars and loud exhausts are intrusive, annoying, and all too common.”
“Only by confronting the multi-billion dollar noise-industrial complex,” said Rueter, “can the people of Savannah ever find peace and quiet. Otherwise, boom car boys will continue to boom in the day and boom in the night.”
Noise Free America is a national citizens organization opposed to noise pollution. Past winners of the “Noisy Dozen” award include Congressman Darrell Issa, Governor Jesse Ventura, VIPER car alarms, Circuit City, Flowmaster, and Richmond, Virginia. Noise Free America’s web site is http://noisefree.org.