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 an emergency message to the Woodstock community, before the imminent approval by the Town board of a new Noise ordinance, likely on May 13 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 wholesome support for art and community businesses.   It is about predatory decibels and a catastrophic mismatch of product to locations; and about how Emergency permits were breached and misused to enable community-destroying abuses for the benefit of a few.

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?

04/22 TOWN BOARD MEETING:

As per the Town Board’s discussion of 4/22, the Public Hearing for the Noise Ordinance will be re-opened on Tuesday, May 13.

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