Even though there has been no hue and cry from residents or shoppers about excessive noise and even though the current noise ordinance is analogous to that of most other surrounding communities, our city fathers have seen fit to fix the unbroken wheel.
One proposed change would prevent businesses from throwing out trash after 10 p.m. Can you imagine what bars and restaurants would smell like at 1:55 a.m. just before closing with mountains of foul smelling beer bottles and food remains? Can you spell rat and vermin infestation? Another proposed change would add a “transition zone” of 55 decibels to be sandwiched in between the current 60 decibel commercial zone and 50 decibel residential zone. This would add yet another burden on businesses (keep in mind that normal human conversation when measured three feet away is 65 decibels). As Dr. Bill Wood, pastor of First Presbyterian Church so eloquently said at a City Council hearing “Are you going to tell me that we can’t play Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor fortissimo, or that our children can’t play with excitement in the church courtyard? Isn’t God’s house exempt?” Apparently not. Neither schools nor churches are exempt but surprise, surprise, the city is! Now for a 1984 Orwellian twist: If a neighbor of a nearby business makes a complaint of excessive noise, guess where the responding noise enforcement officer will measure the decibel level? In the complainant’s residence. How is a business owner supposed to know what the noise level inside his establishment will translate to in someone’s private residence? Not too many of us are clairvoyant. In addition, the enforcement officer would have the ability to shut down the business on the spot.
Perhaps the most egregious aspect of all is a bold-faced attempt to fund the implementation of the proposed ordinance on the backs of business. The city has proposed proactive monitoring of about 500 conditional and development review permitted businesses to the tune of $500 each inspection, i.e. $250,000 for the city’s coffers. Millions for the homeless but not one penny to help business. The costs for this new inspection regime would be an additional $260,000 the first year alone in personnel and equipment.
This useless activism must be stopped. As of this writing, the proposed ordinances have yet to be enacted. They will be on tonight’s menu at City Hall. Why not tell them “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take is any more.” You can still e-mail or call your council member today.
Dr. Michael E. Gruning Chairman of the board Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 25, 2003. Read the original PDF.