Queens Council Member Robert Holden introduced a package of bills Thursday largely aimed at improving the quality of life for residents living in the city (Photo: New York City Council)
April 15, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
Queens Council Member Robert Holden introduced a series of bills Thursday aimed at improving the quality of life for New York City residents.
The bills aim to combat everything from noise pollution to sidewalk obstructions—to the unauthorized towing of vehicles. The legislation would also require film crews to provide more notice when they plan to occupy public streets.
Holden introduced 16 bills in total and said that many of the bills address unruly behavior that has contributed to rising crime. Crime is up 40.5 percent citywide for the year through April 10, compared to the same period a year ago, according to NYPD data.
“With the trend of legalizing or ignoring, and thereby normalizing behaviors that diminish our city’s quality of life… it’s time to take measures to bring balance to living in New York City,” Holden said in a statement.
Holden introduced legislation designed to combat disorderly motorists blasting out deafening music from their vehicles.
One of his bills would increase the civil penalties for motorists who blast an unreasonable amount of noise from their vehicle via a personal audio device. The new penalties would range from $200 to $2,100, depending on the number of violations committed within the preceding two years.
Another bill would target raucous motorists who attach speakers to the exterior of a vehicle. Violators would be hit with a civil penalty of between $100 and $225 for a first offense increasing to as much as $575 for a third violation.
Holden has also introduced legislation that targets business owners who pump out loud music from a commercial establishment. He has a bill that would reduce the acceptable level of noise.
Holden, whose district covers Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood and parts of Woodhaven and Woodside, said that noise pollution is a serious concern among his constituents and his bills aim to clamp down on the problem.
“We know that unreasonable noise late at night is not only a nuisance but a threat to New Yorkers’ health,” Holden said. “All New Yorkers are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their homes.”
Holden’s other bills take aim at film crews operating on public streets. The crews, he said, often disrupt small businesses by taking valuable parking spaces.
One such bill would require media companies that plan to take on-street parking to give better notice, requiring them to apply for permits more than 14 days in advance.
Another bill would create an online database and interactive map informing the public about upcoming media activities in public spaces.
Holden also introduced bills that would suspend bus lane enforcement on holidays and require the Sanitation Commissioner to issue a report on sidewalk obstructions.
Additionally, Holden introduced a bill that would streamline the online 311 compliant process to make it easier for the public. Another bill would add a new complaint function to the 311 website where residents can report trucks illegally towing vehicles.
“These bills can be just a small start at making New York City more livable again,” Holden said.
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27 Comments
Start ticketing dog owners who do not clean up after their dog. Its disgusting!! I told one dog owner to clean up the mess and the next day there was dog waste on my front door step. Also the city trash bins are causing a mess on residential streets. They are being filled with household trash and dog waste and the sanitation workers do a poor job of picking up debris that falls during trash pick up. Rats are also taking over due to outside dining.
This man should be mayor.
Watched a news segment this weekend. They interviewed people and subway riders from the community where the shooting took place last week on the subway from a mentally ill person. Most of them said they do not care about minor crimes and offenses like littering, turnstile jumping, graffiti, homeless, Etc. Those interviewed cared more about getting guns off the streets and more social programs and resources that will help poor communities and the mentally ill.
As President Joe Biden said Oct. 21, “According to the United States intelligence community, domestic terrorism from white supremacists is the most lethal terrorist threat in the homeland.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/us/politics/domestic-terror-white-supremacists.html
Its not the guy who beat three Sikh men? Its not the guy who splattered feces on a person’s face at a subway station? Its not the mass shooters in Sacramento, South Carolina, and in Brooklyn? Ask Chris “I can take a slap” Rock who he is afraid of when he walks down the street in the middle of the night. Here’s a clue, its not Mike Wallace.
Of course he’ll say that. It is politically incorrect to ever blame Black people for anything. Look at the massive amount of crime Black people commit in this country. Blame them publicly and your career is ruined but Black people are never shy about blaming everything and everyone on racism. Publish this!
Hopefully, I do not get censored again for agreeing with you Jim, but post this whenever you can. It is the complete truth.
Thumbs down ! Hopefully Holden will retire and/or voters will elect someone younger more in tune with the working class diverse community. The people just got out of a lockdown. Focus on major crimes like gun control and hate crimes.
All you want is for someone to agree with opinions that you think are correct. And you are using age discrimination to make your point. I’m sure you’re a racist also.
The war has a lot of New Yorkers stressed. Its Putin’s fault.
THANK YOU Commissioner Mr. Mayor and police officers!!! You are all talk and only care about tourists by telling us the subways and streets are safe.
https://nypost.com/2022/04/17/adams-sewell-insist-nyc-subways-are-safe-after-rampage-as-mayor-downplays-crime-surge/
fast food places put up fake “out of order” signs on restrooms because they’re understaffed and do not want to deal with rowdy high and drunk folks who come for the outside dining and cause havoc in residential areas. I caught two people on security cam urinating on the side of my house and two other males performing a sex act in public. I called the police but they never showed up. Also i notice that many homeless have left the business and train area and are wondering around the residential areas. Never seen it so bad in WQs.
We also need the city to focus on stealing wheels, mirrors and braking car’s windows etc. It’s getting worst everyday. Crimes big or small don’t let those criminals out the next day because they’ll continue doing it.
The courts seems to be handling the speed camera summons just fine. And the Dept. of Sanitation seems to have no problem giving fines to homeowners from the mess other people make in front of their place. It can’t be that people with nothing to lose always avoid accountability because they have nothing left for the system to take.
Speaking of quality of life issues. Sunnysides’s own walking and talking quality of life issue Le Le is back! Let’s all welcome her back.
We need more Holdens and less progressives but that’s not happening in 2022 Queens. The best strategy is to move out of here and less the progressives destroy the city. They are well on their way.
At least some politician out there is trying to introduce some sane legislation!
I hope they crack down in the rap music. Too vulgar for my taste.
But Good Luck with the laws being enforced.
The fart car drivers need to be fined heavily and their vehicles confiscated. The drivers usually have a terrible taste in music too.
It’s about time.
This plan is racist. It targets minorities.
Not all minorities. Just the ones with no respect for anyone else.
Wish someone would do the same for Sunnyside. That and the graffiti and illegal street racing on a nightly basis down 43rd street needs to be addressed. But we all know someone will claim this is racist and targets only certain individuals.
It’s a breath of fresh air to hear a politician even utter the words “Quality of Life”, something that is important to EVERYONE, instead of the usual identity politics that are used to divide us all into competing victim groups.
What about unmuffled motors? At least with loud music I can only hear when they’re on my block. I can hear every motorcycle on Queens Boulevard!
These bills make as much sense as Holden’s taxpayer salary. 0 chance of passage!