
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                    TAG: 9406170195 
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS                     PAGE: 06    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940619                                 LENGTH:

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO MAKES IT\

{LEAD} A new ordinance passed Tuesday by City Council gives officers the right enforcement tool: a way to measure decibel and impulsive sound levels.

The disturbing aspect of the action was that an exception to the controls was made for activities and events on publicly owned property.

{REST} What makes noise generated by public activities any more acceptable than noise generated by private activities?

Understandably, the city is trying to protect functions such as the Seawall Festival entertainment, events which sometimes are attacked by a group of Olde Towne residents.

Under the current management at PortsEvents, the entertainment does not seem offensively loud. It may be that even the events that cause complaints would fall within acceptable levels, and that would provide the city's answer to complaints.

But the ordinance should cover all noise, giving the public some recourse in the event any public agency should fall under the management of people who have no regard for human ears. That has happened in the past and it could happen again.

by CNB