Noise Annoys

Big Apple Residents Sound off About Sound

The ear-shattering sounds of New York City—blaring car horns, piercing ambulance sirens, thundering subway trains, roaring pneumatic drills, and the noise generated by millions of people huddled together in limited spaces—have become legendary. Visitors are stunned by this cacophony and wonder how residents tolerate it. “We can’t and we won’t remain silent and longer,” said Carmins SantaMaria, founder of Big Screechers, a New York anti-noise group credited with forcingthe City’s Transit Authority to lower its din.