Unacceptable levels of noise, noise and more noise have been the bane of many a Bronxite’s existence over several years, and never more so than during the hot summer months when residents are also contending with fumes from illegal barbecues, insufficient AC in their homes in some cases, and other quality of life issues.

This year, complaints appear to be on steroids as the worst of the noise-related incidents have already begun, and now include noise from illegal dirt bikes, scooters, and self-amplified speaker systems.

On Tuesday, June 4, one resident of the Knox Place / Gates Place area in Norwood, who declined to share her name for publication, and who also works in the area, said the loud music in and around Van Cortlandt Park is “every freakin’ weekend, and these people don’t even live in the neighborhood.”

The resident said when the group was kicked out of the park on nights when police enforced the 10 p.m. closure of public parks, members of the crowd would sit in their vehicles, on lounge chairs, on milk crates, or along the wall to Van Cortlandt Park at West Gun Hill Road and blast music from customized speakers until the wee hours of the morning.

The resident continued, “Sometimes I can’t even hear my T.V.! That’s how loud the music is! It’s worse when you’re trying to sleep, when you’ve got to go to work the next day!”

During the latest monthly meeting of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, held on Thursday, May 27, the first in-person gathering of the council since the pandemic began, the precinct’s commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Thomas Alps, addressed the concerns, telling residents, “I understand that there’s a lot of issues in this community that need to get resolved.” He added, “I’m talking about quality-of-life issues, motorcycles, noise.”

Referring to the day-to-day work of cops on the beat, Alps continued, “The officers in this precinct are fighting for you day in and day out, at great risk to themselves physically.” He added, “We’re getting a lot of push-back, a lot of resistance. Nothing’s simple anymore – not much compliance on the street. We’re not getting a lot of respect, whether it’s deserved or undeserved.”

Speaking to the interactions officers have with the public in combating such quality-of-life issues, Alps continued, “These stops are confrontational. They’re dangerous. They’re [carried out] at great risk to officers, both liability-wise, career-wise, and it can go bad. Use of force is a very hot topic.”

Alps told community members he had warned his officers he didn’t want to be embarrassed by the sound of noisy, illegal dirt bikes passing the station-house while the meeting was in progress. The crowd broke into applause as several officers later rolled in a dirt bike and two scooters that had been confiscated during the meeting.

Recalling then a recent confrontation on Morris Avenue, when an amplified speaker had been confiscated, Alps said, “We try and reason. We try and say, ‘Hey, please! It’s one o’clock in the morning, on a Sunday. It’s God’s day. Give the residents a break.”

In conclusion, Alps said he would continue to be an advocate for the residents of the community who are making the noise and quality-of-life complaints. “I have to address their issues, and if you don’t want to respect their issues, I’m going to have to do the enforcement,” he said. “So, we did the enforcement that night [on Morris Avenue]. It turned confrontational… ripped up summons, foot pursuit… but this is what we’re dealing with now.”

Last summer, Norwood News spoke with former District 11 City Councilman Andrew Cohen about issues raised by NYPD officers, after the latest package of police reform laws had been passed, and how the officers said they were finding it difficult to balance the need not to get too confrontational with residents when it came to addressing noise complaints, with the need for enforcement of the law.

At various Build the Block meetings, different officers from the 52 and 50 precincts had brought up the matter. In response, Cohen said that the law was clear, and that officers should simply apply it. We have since reached out to Councilman Eric Dinowitz for his views on the matter and will update this story upon receipt of a response.

Before the precinct meeting was held, one longtime resident of the Amalgamated Houses had complained to the Norwood News of a loud radio playing by Harris Field and illegal dirt bikes riding up and down Goulden Avenue, in Jerome Park. Speaking to us on Monday, May 17, the resident said, “Last night, the music went until 2:45 a.m. I called 311 three times to issue a noise complaint.” The resident said he was told twice that police were on scene and had found no evidence of the complaint.

The resident provided copies of several of the logged 311 complaints he filed, saying, “The music was blasting for several hours that police couldn’t have not heard it, unless they never showed up.” He then added, “I do not mind public gatherings, but music heard five blocks away is totally inappropriate.”

Norwood News has also received complaints of unacceptable levels of noise from other residents along Mosholu Parkway, Bronx Boulevard in Olinville and on Exterior Street in University Heights.

Meanwhile, in terms of other quality-of-life issues which were not raised at the precinct meeting, a storeowner in Bedford Park who declined to be identified, confirmed a recent story by the NY Post that a previously vacant Bedford Park building at 3059 Valentine Avenue is being used by squatters, referring to them as “a gang of young men.”

A second source from the area, who also declined to be identified, classified the group as “a local gang” who sold weed at the location. A third resident told the Norwood News she was scared to go out at night in the vicinity of the building, because she felt fearful.

During the Bronx Community Bronx 7 Public Safety meeting held on Thursday, June 10, residents were advised that for noise complaints coming from parks, residents should call NYC Park Enforcement on (646) 613-1200. Residents were also urged not to be discouraged, and to continue to log 311 calls regarding noise complaints.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.