sign language
tommyFrom one of Mayor Pam Iorio’s five strategic initiatives listed on TampaGov.net:
Our Goal… “Tampa will be a place that celebrates the works of artists, writers, and performers; providing opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy and be enriched by a wide array of creative pursuits.”
[The study] calls for expanding arts into Tampa’s neighborhoods. In addition to the Cultural Arts District, which will become the centerpiece of the City’s arts initiative, increased attention will be given to the placement and role of public art throughout the community and in particular, in the pedestrian environment where they can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Tampa city officials are (once again) looking into doing something about the wretched noise problem in Ybor City. Some officials say for an entertainment district, the music levels are just too entertaining. They want to lower the allowable noise levels in Ybor, Channelside, and downtown Tampa from 85dB to 75. Mayor Pam says she “wants a different environment” down there on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Maybe she is thinking mimes.
A jet engine is about 140 decibel (dB), while a baby’s cry is about 119. You listen to your stereo at about 120 dB. Rock concerts are up to 120 dB, and a band playing in a bar plays at about 105 dB. According to Advanced Brain Technologies, here’s a list of noises and the corresponding dB level:
Hair Dryer: 75-90db
City Traffic: 80-100db
Lawn Mower: 90-100db
Leaf Blower: 95-115db
Subway Trains: 100db
Rock Concert: 110-120db
Portable Stereo (full volume): 115db
Fireworks: 130-190db
Jet Engines: 140db
Handgun/Rifle: 160-170db
When gulf waves “crash” the shore, do tourists cover their ears? How loud are the Busch Gardens roller coasters? Has anyone measured the decibel of the cannons at the Buccaneer games? If city traffic can measure up to 100 dB, how can we expect anyone to think straight while looking for a relocated art museum??
I can see it now: The Masquerade, Gaspar’s Grotto, the Green Iguana will all close and be replaced by new entertainment spots such as The Taciturn, Stillness, and Shusher’s. Howl at the Moon will become Hush at the Moon. Hell, Tampa rocker Johnny G. Lyon says the ordinance will turn him into Lawrence Welk.
This self-proclaimed “City of the Arts” wants to severely handicap artists. The typical noise of traffic will be louder than a legal performance. Local musicians are to be drowned out by a freakin’ hair dryer.
Full disclosure: I’m the lead vocalist in Johnny’s band (JGLB), and we entertain thousands of tourists and locals in Ybor City week after week. I’ve never seen Mayor Pam in Ybor on a Friday or Saturday night. You can read more of Johnny’s thoughts on the noise ordinance at the JGLB blog.
Tags: arts, economy, music, news, tampa, tourism
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July 18th, 2005 at 4:52 pm
The Cannons — I believe- are 150 DB. Maybe more… I remember FOX having gauged the sound inside RJS during a Buc drive… Or something like that.
I readily admit I could be wrong though.
)
(Johnny’s back, BTW, Tommy
July 18th, 2005 at 4:55 pm
…this is a backdoor attempt at accomplishing some racial motives, something tells me.
the ford ampitheatre issue is legitimate. the residents were promised something that wasn’t delivered. Ybor has been Ybor long enough that people know what they’re getting into. That’s different. Perhaps people would like to go to a city with a more cohesive, complete entertainment area to see how loud it gets there? Ybor residents should be happy Channelside and downtown are further down the road, or things would be even worse.
I have yet to see these police officers walk down 7th street with dB meters but I certainly would make fun of them if I did.
July 18th, 2005 at 9:52 pm
tim, I have not only seen the police walking down 7th with hand-held measuring devices, they have demanded we turn down the music, and given written warnings to the bar manager.
July 20th, 2005 at 12:03 am
This is insane. It’s an entertainment district. It’s supposed to be loud. Bah!
July 20th, 2005 at 4:11 pm
If anything, they should ban all the annoying club promoters…they’re the only things in Ybor City that bother me. If I want to go in a club, I’ll find one on my own, thank you very much.
November 23rd, 2005 at 4:15 pm
[...] [...]
July 13th, 2006 at 9:24 am
[...] July 2005 – City wants noise level lowered to the same as a hair dryer. [...]
June 28th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
[...] on the telephone hold music. I don’t recall any big DfAaCA music festival in town. And live music is damn near outlawed in Ybor [...]