Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

PVD Noise Project

@pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social

46 followers 75 following 84 posts

Addressing the culture of #noise in one of America’s oldest cities. #Noisepollution is a #publichealth and #environmentaljustice issue — and prevention is preferable to punishment. “Noise is the New Smoking.” More information at ProvidenceNoiseProject.org.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · Dec 4

A Quieter World Is Possible: “#Noise is inevitable in a big city; harmful noise levels are not. ‘It's important to distinguish between the types of sounds that populations will [naturally] produce versus the … unnecessary noise that we're willing to deal with and accept’.” www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/no-more-noise-toronto-1.7038351

t.co

1 2

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 23h

The same guys — and they are mostly adolescent men — who spend money to replace perfectly working mufflers with modified ones that amplify engine noise tend to also be the ones who illegally tint their windows and drive far above the speed limit and otherwise recklessly. It’s a vehicular #darktriad.

1 1

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 1d

After taking so many years to finally introduce #leafblower regulations in the @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social’s appropriate committee, and another 8 months to gather input on the initial draft, why the sudden rush on a committee vote with just 2 days legal-minimum notice and similar full-Council votes?

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 1d

@SueAnderBois.bsky.social says @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social’s *only* chance at #leafblower regulation is to vote on Thursday, but it has other options: The Council sets its own legislative agenda, and can simply delay the vote to give the Environment Committee time to shorten those two key deadlines.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 1d

After spending nearly 8 months ostensibly seeking input on the original draft of the #leafblower ordinance, the @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social’s Environment Committee doesn’t seem to have talked to PVD Mayor Smiley — or his sustainability director — or it did but ignored them. We know what that’s like.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 1d

If the PVD city government wants to end its use of gas-fueled #leafblowers sooner for the sake of the environment and residents’ #publichealth, why isn’t that in @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social’s ordinance?

Whose interests are they representing if not their own constituents’ …?

@Rachel-RI.bsky.social

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 1d

And PVD’s director of #sustainability testified to the @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social’s Environment Committee that the general public’s use of gas-burning #leafblowers should end within six years rather than the EIGHT-year transition the Council proposes. @ShelPVD14.bsky.social @MSanchezPVD.bsky.social

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 1d

Providence Mayor Smiley told WPRI 12 on Oct. 10 that the city government should lead by example by ending its workers’ / contractors’ use of gas-fueled #leafblowers earlier than the general public. The original version of the ordinance included that provision, but it was removed without explanation.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 1d

@PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social’s ordinance doesn’t finally end gas #leafblower use until 2033! According to the Quiet Clean Alliance, a network of U.S. groups working to reduce / end gas leafblowers, no other U.S. municipality lets these toxic emissions continue for so long. www.quietcleanalliance.org

www.quietclean

2 1

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 2d

@PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social member @SueAnderBois.bsky.social, you told the other members of the Environment Committee that you met with members of the RI landscaping lobby “several times”, and incorporated their requests into the #leafblower amendment. On what dates and times did you meet with them?

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

We call on @Rachel-RI.bsky.social to pause next week’s vote on the current amendment to allow a short period to revise it, then vote on the improved version later this month.

The amendment doesn’t kick in until 2027 — what’s the rush to pass a flawed version now instead of a better one in 3 weeks?

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

After a long delay since the February public hearing, the Environment Committee’s 15-minute approval and full City Council vote seem unnecessarily rushed.

Most PVD residents didn’t get a chance to review the version the Committee rubber-stamped, and expected more improvements to the original draft.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “If it fails to pass or is veto’d, it’ll set it all back by at least a year or two to get a future version passed”

Not true — you can amend the current version to reduce the unnecessary 5-year delay to 2–3 years, as PVD’s director of #sustainability advocates. We’d support and mayor will sign it.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “The phase out begins with a seasonal phase out in 2027, which is less than 2 years away.”

Nothing happens until 2027, then the process freezes for another FIVE years — leaving PVD residents and landscaping workers exposed to #noise and other toxic #airpollution every day every autumn until 2033!

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “bringing folks to the table is an important part of the process”

Knowing who you represent is an even more important part of the process. A municipal ordinance is intended to protect the health and environment of Providence residents, who elect the City Council to represent them — not all of RI.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “Getting this passed and implemented is what I’m doing to best serve my community”

That’s exactly the point: As written, the prohibition on gas leafblowers in Providence won’t be implemented for EIGHT years. How does that serve your community in *PVD* (not all of RI, which you keep referring to)?

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “Most folks I talk with want the phase-out”

We also support a phase-out — that was never the issue. It was always about how *long* the phase-out should be. The amendment cites gas leafblowers’ adverse health and environmental effects, but then takes EIGHT years to phase them out. That’s too long.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “PVD based businesses serve other parts of the state & vice versa.”

The @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social doesn’t govern other parts of the state, which get to decide how much pollution they want to endure there, just like PVD residents decide that here through you — and non-PVD businesses must comply.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “Getting legislation actually passed & implemented often requires working [with] many folks.”

And even more folks when you include people who don’t live in PVD — and who have city council members (and RI reps / senators) where *they* live.

We need you to represent PVD residents — not all of RI!

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 6d

> “We have landscapers based in … other parts of RI & surrounding states who operate all over the state”

You sound like an RI legislator — @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social is supposed to focus on needs of *PVD* residents, who’ve already endured leafblower #noise for many years and can’t wait eight more!

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 7d

@PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social member @SueAnderBois.bsky.social, a quick question: Do you have any data on the total number of landscaping workers who actually live *in* Providence (i.e., not those who live outside the city but work in it sometimes), and how much time they actually spend working here?

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 16d

“The police don’t seem to pursue loud and revving vehicles, racing vehicles, clusters of motorcycles doing wheelies, and other dangerous driving on residential streets.”
— Providence resident living near intersection of Veazie Street and Douglas Avenue in Wanskuck (Ward 14) @shelpvd14.bsky.social

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 23d

>”It’s not a meeting with comment”

Councilmember @SueAnderBois.bsky.social, your statement above is confusing, because the online agenda for the Sept. 24 Environment Committee meeting includes item 3. Public Comment. Can you please confirm if attendees can comment at the end of the meeting? Thanks.

A screenshot of the agenda for the Sept. 24 Providence City Council Environment Committee meeting that includes item 3: Public Comment.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 23d

The @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social Environment Committee meets 9/24 at 5:30pm to discuss the LONG-overdue ordinance regulating gas-fueled #leafblowers. If you can’t attend the meeting on just 2 days notice, ask @Rachel-RI.bsky.social why the Council withholds info. providenceri.iqm2.com/Citizens/Det...

2025/09/24 05:30 PM Special Committee on Environment and Resiliency Regular Meeting - Web Outline - City of Providence

providenceri.iqm2.com

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 24d

Still doesn’t explain why meetings that @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social members know about weeks in advance aren’t formally announced to the public until two days before. How is that in the #publicinterest? And you STILL haven’t said how residents can see the revised version of the leafblower ordinance.

PVD Noise Project @pvdnoiseproject.bsky.social · 24d

The Open Meetings Act is intended as an absolute *minimum* standard for public notice. The @PVDCityCouncil.bsky.social clearly knows far earlier than 2 days in advance when its meetings are scheduled. Why deliberately withhold that information from most residents, other than to limit participation?