We all want our businesses to succeed; but not at the cost of ravaging their neighbors forever; and not without accountability.

Why this site now?

Please visit the ABOUT section to find out who we are, and why we are finally forced to speak up publicly.

This is a pressing message to the Woodstock community, to bring back correct facts and the under-reported legal framework to the public conversation on a new Noise ordinance, before its likely approval by the Town board on Tuesday June 10 at the end of a Public Hearing.  We believe you have not been fully and accurately informed.

The new Ordinance has a single purpose: to officialize and generalize the use of invasive outdoor amplification for commercial entertainment, for the first time in Woodstock’s entire history.

 If passed with the terms proposed, it will transform forever the historic character of our town and our public commons; cause extraordinary damage to some of your fellow citizens; and end the private rights to peaceful enjoyment of home that had been legally protected in our artist community for over five decades.

Restoring facts

No, this is NOT about “music” and “fair cultural compromise”, and certainly not about “protecting the arts” or a wholesome support for community businesses .   It is about predatory commercial decibels and a catastrophic mismatch of product to locations; about how Emergency permits were breached and misused to enable community-destroying abuses for the benefit of a few; and about the need to acknowledge our Zoning laws - separate from the Sound Ordinance - whose sensible, coherent and long-standing provisions have kept our Art Community whole for decades - and still could, if applied.

No, we are NOT against outdoor music or against venues. The opposite is true. Venues are many and cherished in Woodstock, including by us. We helped build a musical community that thrived for decades through sensible laws and shared values. See here how and why it worked so well.

No, the impact of the new outdoor amplification is not “a minor annoyance”. For those most affected, it has so changed their lives that the only possible relief is to leave their homes when venues are broadcasting outdoors. Some must even contemplate having to leave their homes for good. See here to understand why.

Did you know?

We did not either, until we made official FOIL inquiries that stunned us:

For the past two years, victims seated on the Noise Task Force were told that the loss of their homes was inevitable and must be accepted, because the loud outdoor events had a broad political support and were now a permanent fact.

We learned that this political support could never have been gained lawfully by the venues. To learn more about all that went legally wrong, click here.

What is so worrisome in the new Ordinance?

THE NEW ORDINANCE: The ordinance proposal key elements and their impact are described here.

Thank you for your attention and again, see here Who We Are