LGBT Event at Cadman Plaza Park Deemed Too Loud by Some Brooklyn Heights Residents

By on August 2, 2014 10:28 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn

An event held by an LGBT organization in Cadman Plaza Park on Saturday has at least one Brooklyn Heights resident angry over its loud music. McBrooklyn writes that an event billed as the GLBT Summer Affair was not only sparsely attended but that, “For the first 3 hours of the noise, the only ones in the park were the crew members that set up the sound system.”

Scheduled to appear at the event – DJ Frankie Paradise creator of this nifty house mix:

And DJ Andre Collins:

Despite the apparent quality of at least these two DJs, passersby weren’t amused McBrooklyn says.

Someone doesn’t like the music. (photo: McBrooklyn)

McBrooklyn: People trying to walk through the park to get home are holding their hands over their ears because the music is so painfully loud.

Residents living along Cadman Plaza have called police, but what are the odds they will show up?

The same group played the same really bad, really loud music last year, including a three-hour rendition of “I Will Not Dance to Your War Drum” interspersed with Latinized Elton John tune.

So who is responsible for this “racket?” A little background on the organization from GLBT Summer Affair’s website:

Provides Cultural Urban Special Events Fundraising that will benefit charitable organizations. Our focus on combining cultural affirmation, active engagement of classes, sexuality, gender, philosophical differences on sexuality, physical, and community health at all Health Fair events. We will provide HIV/AIDS Testing and Educational Prevention, STD screenings and blood pressure services. Working within Urban Performing Arts (local, national groups, and The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community in the greater New York City Area. Using our resources in an effort to promote recognition of the talents and contributions of empowerment of people in the community as well as promoting tourism to the greater New York City Area. Also, Hosting a vast array of events, and forums.

Did you happen to see this event? Was it too loud? Comment away!

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  • Beth

    My apartment faces Cadman Plaza and YES, it was way too loud, even for me (and I’m a music person). I could even hear the bass sitting in my car on Henry Street with the windows closed! There was dance music in the Park last weekend as well, not sure if it was the same organization.

  • ArtofAnAngel

    It was loud. Heard a house tune walking along Henry. Was thinking about seeing what the noise was about after dinner, glad I didn’t.

    If above ad was used to promote the event, could see why it wasn’t alluring for crowds. {The pose, the teletubbie background, Cadman Plza, glbt} Not a great mix.

    In the end no harm done right? & according to mission statement, it’s for a good cause.

  • David on Middagh

    Well, take some (some) dance music out of the party, expose it to the daylight of a beautiful, cool Saturday afternoon, and its banality is manifest. I heard it around 3:50 PM. The loudness dissuaded me from walking along the park; I stayed on the other side of CPW until I was past the racket.

  • Frisk

    So it would have been less loud if there were more people there?

    It’s a park. We are all happy it’s there. It’s owned by the city, not the lucky residents of Brooklyn Heights who are fortunate enough to be able use it with such ease. Sometimes, there may be events there that don’t interest us, or even annoy us. That’s life in the big city.

  • David on Middagh

    “So it would have been less loud if there were more people there?”

    Of course. Unless the people were made of a hard, reflective substance.

  • Mary

    The issue is not that music is playing and too few people are having a good time. The issues are, how long and how loud is acceptable. When I have to wear noise canceling headphones plugged into a sound source for six hours and can still hear the bass, it’s too loud.

    Increases in heart problems and other disorders are linked to extreme decibel levels. That’s just as true for Brooklyn Heights as it is for every other neighborhood.

    Please contact the Community Board if you wish to support monitoring of sound levels at Cadman Plaza Park. I know that DEP has decibel meters.

    BTW: It’s true that the sound system folks often crank it up well before and after these events.

  • Diane

    I walked over to the park yesterday to ask them to turn down the music. I live in 101 Clark Street on the 10th floor. With my windows closed (double paned) the air conditioning on, I could still hear the “music”. Today, there is another event. It started at 10am. The music isn’t as loud but the voices are when they use the mic. The interesting thing is nothing is listed on the Events Calendar for the Park. This happens weekend after weekend from early Spring until late Fall. I wrote the Park’s commissioner yesterday on their website but we need some community action. Not only should the decibels levels be controlled but there should be a limit to how many weekends are allowed and how many hours on any given day.

  • Diane

    Here’s the link to write to the commissioner. You can do it anonymously if you choose
    http://www.nycgovparks.org/contact-parks

  • Mary

    Amen to that! Twice on one weekend is at least once too many. Give us a break.

    Thanks for the link. Also, Brooklyn’s Community Board 2’s website is http://www.nyc.gov/html/bkncb2/html/home/home.shtml.

    Manhattan’s CB2 just sent a letter to their Borough Commissioner Castro, regarding Washington Square Park issues. To read it, go to http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb2/downloads/pdf/monthly_cb2_resolutions/7July2014/ParkRecreationWaterFront_July2014.pdf

  • ujh

    Groups holding events in city parks must obtain a permit from DPR; that includes permission to play music. I live on the other side of Cadman Park, and yes, it was loud – it always is (even this morning, Sunday). Last year, after having had to listen to the thumping beat all day long I went over after 7 p.m. and asked to speak with the group’s leader. The use permits end at 8 p.m. The financially strapped DPR raises modest amounts for park maintenance by issuing these permits. Ask courteously whether the volume can be lowered. No point writing to the parks commissioner.

  • Carlotta

    This sounds good to me. “That the Parks Department review its current policies and consider changes that would limit noise and disturbance in the park,”
    I called the Precinct, no answer, called 311, lodged a noise complained. Got a reply that nothing was to be done. 9 a.m. today, more noise. Fortunately they were gone by noon. I had a major headache all yesterday from the boom, boom, boom.

  • David on Middagh

    Folks, I don’t hear it from my window (I’m west of Hicks), but if I were you, I’d put in earplugs, put on ear protectors, march over there, and start pulling likely plugs out of the electrical source. Nothing like having a conversation about noise levels when you don’t have to shout.

  • RS

    The residents of the buildings surrounding Cadman Plaza Park are becoming fed up with the loud music, strong bass, and screaming into the microphones, as occurred this morning(Sunday), before 10:00AM. When asked to turn down the sound, the dj controlling the sound did not comply. Calls to 311 register the complaint but nothing changes. Residents of these buildings will be organizing to stop the every weekend sound permits that are provided to these groups, large or small and which allow them to disrupt the quality of life here in Brooklyn Heights, adding to the problem of noise with the Brooklyn Bridge construction at night. In the meantime,to help, everyone needs to flood 311 and the police precinct with complaints each weekend that this occurs. They are counting the complaints!

  • gc

    Quality of life is on a downward trajectory here in the Heights. “Progress” seems to be the biggest cause.

  • Karl Junkersfeld
  • Roberto

    Cadman Plaza Park, along with its surrounding area, is now a solid “staycation” destination as well as a 24/7 construction zone. Noise, traffic and air pollution define the reality of living here. It’s a bit surprising that so many luxury condos are located in an area which is a poster for the shameful, but true, slogan: The city that never sleeps. The new “progressive” administration needs to hear about this.

  • MonroeOrange

    music was the loudest i ever heard it on sat. All the complaints are justified. Most of us, only have weekends off and to hear non stop bass all day long is unaccpetable. Even if you went to the park to actually listen to the music,the music wouldn’t have been enjoyable as it was deafening.

    It seems to me that everytime there is music in the park there are so few people in attendance, its baffling why they need to play the music so loud. It does the opposite of drawing people in to see what’s going on…people were running to get away from the noise.

  • cristen

    Many if not all the events they have there are loud. And calling the city to make a noise complaint doesn’t seem to help for future events. They are still allowing amplifies events to get permits at the park. Someone must be making money off of this because prior to 2011, there were NO events period in this park. Is it the new Cadman Park Conservancy? Is it the Parks Department? Someone gave the green light for groups to gather and make as much noise as they want without caring about the residents.