Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Jack Deacy (212) 788 - 2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today proclaimed April 29 as Noise Awareness Day in New York City and observed a symbolic moment of silence during a ceremony at City Hall.
The Mayor was joined at the ceremony by Keith Muller, Executive Director of the League for the Hard of Hearing, Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Joel Miele, Janice Taylor, Director of the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities, and Taxi and Limousine Commission Chair Diane McGrath-McKechnie.
"Over the past five years we have made tremendous progress in improving the quality of life for the people of New York City," Mayor Giuliani said. "One of the areas we have targeted is the reduction of noise in midtown Manhattan and in communities throughout the five boroughs. Exposure to excessive levels of noise is not only annoying, it can result in permanent hearing loss.
"Today we call on all New Yorkers to respect their neighbors right to peace and quiet. And we want to remind everyone that the City will continue to enforce stricter noise regulations and penalties and will continue to work closely with groups like the League for the Hard of Hearing to make New York City a quieter, more civilized place to call home."
In accepting the proclamation on behalf of the League for the Hard of Hearing, Executive Director Keith Muller said, "We want to thank Mayor Giuliani and his administration for working with us to make New Yorkers aware of the damage that excessive noise can do. The League's Noise Center has formed a public-private partnership with the City's Department of Environmental Protection and is working effectively with several City agencies and other groups to turn down the level of noise in New York City."
The League for the Hard of Hearing is New York's oldest hearing rehabilitation agency and directs its efforts to prevent hearing problems and increase public awareness of the damaging effects that noise has on hearing, health and quality of life.
In observance of International Noise Awareness Day, the League is encouraging New Yorkers to take advantage of free hearing screenings and promoting its "Recipe for a Quiet Day" and "Quiet Diet".