Comment:
Below is a letter written to the Manager and Board of Directors of the Nu'uanu YMCA with copies to Carol Fukunaga, City Council, the Downtown Neighborhood Board, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and Quieter O'ahu Quieter O'ahu has removed any personally identifying information.
21 April, 2019
I trust that you enjoyed a peaceful Easter holiday with family and friends. I, however, did not. I am a resident of [Nu'uanu] (since 2004). Early this morning my Sunday and holiday were disturbed by your tree trimmers; they cut and shredded and used noisy blowers until after 4:00 pm.
That may have been convenient for your members; however, I suggest that you consider your neighbors when planning such events. I have, in the past asked you to allow the residents of Downtown to enjoy ONE day a week and a holiday without the sound of choppers and blowers.
Recently, I spoke with your Manager because your trash haulers were coming at 3:30 am - and he did indeed stop that.
Those of us who live downtown appreciate the many positives - shopping, restaurants, banks, convenience …but we also deal with a huge problem - traffic noise, soot, pollution, sirens and helicopters, homeless individuals, crime and the problem is worsening.
I am copying those who may (I hope) address some these ancillary issues.
But I do expect the Nu’uanu Y to be a good neighbor, and I hope that the other agencies I have copied will respond as well.
With aloha,
Quieter O'ahu Response:
You said in your letter what many others are thinking - constantly. It is noisy; unnecessarily noisy!! Just the situations alone that you address are issues for everyone across the island. As our population density grows - and it is growing - we ALL have to be mindful that our actions directly or indirectly affect our neighbors and our neighborhood. Industry has to adapt to a new-normal which includes doing their noisy-work during more agreeable times of the day, week, month, and year. Your approach to your Council, neighborhood board, and Mayor are on-target. We encourage greater participation in the neighborhood board venue where one voice can literally change the rules of business for a board, and cause issues to be raised to higher priority because people are willing to speak out.
We have added you to our distribution list and from time-to-time will address issues where we recommend signing petitions, or direct email campaigns to elected officials, highlighting the growing noise in our community and underscoring that we expect their attention to the issue of mitigating noise or we will happily find candidates for their seat who will.
We will post your letter to our blog for the benefit of others, without your name or identifying information. Thanks you for contacting us.
Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu
Below is a letter written to the Manager and Board of Directors of the Nu'uanu YMCA with copies to Carol Fukunaga, City Council, the Downtown Neighborhood Board, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and Quieter O'ahu Quieter O'ahu has removed any personally identifying information.
21 April, 2019
I trust that you enjoyed a peaceful Easter holiday with family and friends. I, however, did not. I am a resident of [Nu'uanu] (since 2004). Early this morning my Sunday and holiday were disturbed by your tree trimmers; they cut and shredded and used noisy blowers until after 4:00 pm.
That may have been convenient for your members; however, I suggest that you consider your neighbors when planning such events. I have, in the past asked you to allow the residents of Downtown to enjoy ONE day a week and a holiday without the sound of choppers and blowers.
Recently, I spoke with your Manager because your trash haulers were coming at 3:30 am - and he did indeed stop that.
Those of us who live downtown appreciate the many positives - shopping, restaurants, banks, convenience …but we also deal with a huge problem - traffic noise, soot, pollution, sirens and helicopters, homeless individuals, crime and the problem is worsening.
I am copying those who may (I hope) address some these ancillary issues.
But I do expect the Nu’uanu Y to be a good neighbor, and I hope that the other agencies I have copied will respond as well.
With aloha,
Quieter O'ahu Response:
You said in your letter what many others are thinking - constantly. It is noisy; unnecessarily noisy!! Just the situations alone that you address are issues for everyone across the island. As our population density grows - and it is growing - we ALL have to be mindful that our actions directly or indirectly affect our neighbors and our neighborhood. Industry has to adapt to a new-normal which includes doing their noisy-work during more agreeable times of the day, week, month, and year. Your approach to your Council, neighborhood board, and Mayor are on-target. We encourage greater participation in the neighborhood board venue where one voice can literally change the rules of business for a board, and cause issues to be raised to higher priority because people are willing to speak out.
We have added you to our distribution list and from time-to-time will address issues where we recommend signing petitions, or direct email campaigns to elected officials, highlighting the growing noise in our community and underscoring that we expect their attention to the issue of mitigating noise or we will happily find candidates for their seat who will.
We will post your letter to our blog for the benefit of others, without your name or identifying information. Thanks you for contacting us.
Mahalo,
Quieter O'ahu