QUESTION
Why can't 311 accept complaints about siren noise?
0:58:13
·
3 min
The NYC 311 system currently does not have the capability to accept complaints about siren noise from emergency vehicles like ambulances.
- There is no city agency currently designated to receive and handle such complaints
- 311 requires an agency to be responsible for responding to a type of complaint in order to build an intake process for it
- The Department of Environmental Protection handles noise complaints, but does not currently accept siren noise complaints
- To enable 311 to take siren noise complaints, an agency like DEP would need to be mandated to receive and address those complaints
Gale A. Brewer
0:58:13
My question Also, I just wanna let you know some years ago, not recently, Joe.
0:58:17
I had a friend who was crossing the Tri Broad Bridge.
0:58:20
Try a barrel and they watch somebody jump, but they couldn't get 311 to give them the right information.
0:58:27
So they were the person jumped and that was the end of that, but it wasn't possible to give an address.
0:58:33
I'm just pointing that out.
0:58:37
My issue is first, the mentioning of sirens and the hope that 131 I know you indicated that it wasn't possible, but I didn't really understand your loop issue.
0:58:50
Because my understanding is that there are 20 noise categories, even some from the streets, you know, loud music apparently is 1 and loud talking.
0:59:01
I didn't know that was against the law.
0:59:03
But the issue is, why not also include sirens?
0:59:09
Because My understanding is it would go to Department of Environmental Protection.
0:59:14
That would be the right agency, I would think.
0:59:16
And I have to say if you wanna keep quality of life, the list of how to address some of these concerns, sirens is right up there.
0:59:25
People complain constantly.
0:59:27
And of course, that's a different topic.
0:59:29
We need to try to address the siren noise.
0:59:31
But I will like to understand more as to why you feel that it is not possible to include that as one of the 20 categories.
Joe Morrisroe
0:59:41
Council member, thank you for the question.
0:59:42
And if I may also say thank you for the support of 311 over the years.
Gale A. Brewer
0:59:46
Since the beginning.
0:59:46
It's appreciated.
0:59:47
Day 1.
Joe Morrisroe
0:59:48
Since day 1.
Gale A. Brewer
0:59:48
What's that?
Joe Morrisroe
0:59:49
Indeed.
0:59:49
Yeah.
0:59:50
20 21 plus years now.
Gale A. Brewer
0:59:51
And I was there.
0:59:52
Thank you.
Joe Morrisroe
0:59:54
In in short order on the sorry.
0:59:56
There's not an agency that currently accepts that complaint.
0:59:59
So the 301 process is dependent on an agency being responsible and responding to the complaint.
1:00:06
So without that, we don't have the ability to take the complaint.
Gale A. Brewer
1:00:09
What's within Department of Environmental Protection is supposed to handle noise?
1:00:13
Why would they not take that?
1:00:14
And why shouldn't they be mandated to take that?
Joe Morrisroe
1:00:17
Fair question.
1:00:18
I I can't speak on behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection or another agency that may or may not be able to take that, but that is our current
Gale A. Brewer
1:00:24
So I'd have to mandate that the Department of Environmental Protection, take the complaint, and then 3 11 could do it.
1:00:31
Is that what you're saying?
Joe Morrisroe
1:00:32
I would say, we need an agency that would take the complaint in order for us to build a front end intake process.
Gale A. Brewer
1:00:37
Okay.
1:00:38
Because I have to say, I do think with all due respect, that when you hear what do people do now when they complain it just gets lost?
1:00:47
In other words, you complain that the ambulance is making a lot of noise, which I get tons and tons of complaints about, and I guess people call 311 and nothing happens.
1:00:55
How would they how would that get responded to?
1:00:58
Dear constituent, I'm sorry, we can't help you.
Joe Morrisroe
1:01:01
What we have is, if it's not something we can take complaint for, we will let the customer know that that's not something we can take a complaint for.
1:01:08
We will also likely check to see if there's an emergency or a dangerous situation associated with it.
Gale A. Brewer
1:01:13
There's no dangerous situation.
1:01:14
They hate the noise.
Joe Morrisroe
1:01:15
Yeah.
1:01:16
Understood.
Gale A. Brewer
1:01:17
Okay.
1:01:18
So that's really I must admit if if you get those kind of complaints, it would seem to me because we're one at Citi and 1 administration, I would then say, we need to fix this.
1:01:28
We need to find an agency who would take it.
1:01:30
And I will work on that.
1:01:31
I got it.
1:01:32
But I'm just saying, that's the kind of thing that makes me crazy.
1:01:35
When there's a problem and it doesn't get fixed even though the public is quite adamant that it's a problem.
1:01:43
So I will tell Rick that he needs to take this as his complaint, as the commission.
