And this is news?  Any New Yorker has know this news headline for decades. So instead of repeating the obvious, here are some solutions for reducing the noise levels in Manhattan:

1)  Fine (heavily) and remove any and all vehicles whose noise levels exceed the legal limit:  we all know the culprits….those annoying Harley drivers who think that all of us are beaming with delight as they roar through town. Sorry guys, you are the only freaks who think that noise is ‘fun’. Fine them. It will raise revenues and improve quality of life. Its not only bikers: think those huge annoying garbage trucks from the dark ages, busses, etc…..replace them all with electric vehicles that are quiet.

2)  Enforce the law in general: There are noise laws, but they are hardly ever enforced. Noisy AC systems, trash playing music loudly in their cars with the windows wide open (if your tunes are so great, why let them out? keep them to yourselves!).

3)  Turn down the volume of your I-pod……With everyone on their I-pods trying to drown out city noise comes a price: Living in a loud club is not good for your ears: ear-phones playing loud music all day long has the same effect.

4)  Turn down the music in restaurants: If we aren’t allowed to dance on the tables, why on earth would we want to be tempted throughout dinner when the chances of having a normal conversation are impossible without screaming.

5) Movie Theaters have amped up their volume by at least 10% over the past decade: its just louder than normal Hollywood!

6) Remember: If you want to capture someone’s attention….whisper! Shouting like our lovely politicians turns everyone off. Shouting in real life achieves the same.

7) SAY SOMETHING: Standing back and not voicing your outrage creates a “NEW NORMAL”….stand up for your right to peaceful co-existence.

8) Noisy neighbors have HOUSE RULES and BUILDING BY-LAWS governing noise: if they don’t, install them or move.

We hope this has you started: any suggestions?