'Let people sleep.' Norwood musician says decade of late-night noise is disrupting her life and music
Kama Linden, who lives near Decatur and Webster avenues, says a group regularly gathers outside a nearby deli and plays music late into the night.
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A Norwood musician says years of loud music blasting through her neighborhood have made it nearly impossible to focus on the thing she loves most — making music.
Kama Linden, who lives near Decatur and Webster avenues, says a group regularly gathers outside a nearby deli and plays music late into the night. She says the noise has been a constant problem for nearly a decade.
“It’s like food for some people…that’s what music is for me…it’s my life,” Linden says, but adds that the music that's coming from outside her apartment has become overwhelming.
“These decibels are crazy,” she says.
According to Linden, the noise often continues well into the early morning hours, which makes it difficult to sleep, work and concentrate. She says she typically settles in for the night around 8 p.m., only to be awakened again around 2 a.m.
“They’re [sic] a difference between making music and making noise,” she says.
Frustrated by the ongoing issue, Linden purchased a decibel meter to track noise levels herself.
“It should be green… it was living red,” she says referring to dangerous noise levels. She says the constant noise has left her dealing with ringing ears, stress and difficulty completing projects.
“I can’t even function. I can’t watch TV. I can’t work on my projects. I just want to crawl in the corner,” Linden says.
Linden says the music can be heard clearly from her sixth-floor apartment, despite the distance from where the group gathers.
“Let people sleep… we’ll all be happier,” she said.
The NYPD says it is looking into the issue after the city received at least 20 excessive-noise complaints in the area last week. It adds officers issued subpoenas for those involved.
For now, Linden says she’s simply hoping for quieter nights so she can focus on finishing her upcoming album.
“Just a gentle consideration, you know… it’s 10 o’clock at night,” she says.
