Video West Haven residents demand answers as mysterious hum rattles residents
West Haven residents describe an ongoing hum affecting their sleep and mental health.
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A persistent rumble is echoing across the Hudson River, leaving some New Jersey inhabitants weary and unsettled.
Residents in Edgewater, Fort Lee, and Cliffside Park, New Jersey — all communities situated across the water from Harlem in New York — report being frequently awakened by unexplained late-night music emanating from Manhattan, according to local authorities.
This jarring sound, which they claim can be detected between 11:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weekends, reportedly reached a peak in February when the Edgewater police force received hundreds of grievances, based on available reports.
“The origin of the disturbance was identified as originating from across the Hudson River, in Harlem, New York,” the Edgewater Police Department communicated to Fox News Digital.
“We reached out to the relevant NYPD precinct concerning the noise complaint. During the warmer seasons, we commonly receive some complaints when vessels hosting parties pass by Edgewater on the Hudson River.”
The drive across the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee, New Jersey, to Harlem, New York, is brief — and sound travels swiftly over the water. (iStock)
A dispute is now actively unfolding on social media.
Numerous residents are adamant that the noise originates from a nightclub in Harlem. Others, including the mayor of Edgewater, suggest that party boats might be the cause.
Michael J. McPartland, the mayor of Edgewater, informed Fox News Digital that Edgewater has encountered issues with party boats for numerous years.
“Typically in the summer, boats undertake excursions or ‘booze cruises’ with loud music playing,” McPartland stated to Fox News Digital.
He mentioned that approximately “five, six, seven years ago,” he engaged with the NYPD to resolve the matter. “They generally cooperate with us,” he noted.
He further commented that “condominium complexes situated along the riverfront in Edgewater” bear the brunt of the sonic disturbance.
Residents of the town of Fort Lee, New Jersey, (pictured above) frequently select the town for its proximity to New York City. However, many favor the tranquil atmosphere of a less congested neighborhood. (iStock)
He indicated that parks in Upper Manhattan can also become noisy. “Occasionally, they permit late-night gatherings there,” he observed.
When questioned about his awareness of the most recent complaints, McPartland stated he was not informed.
Many participants in the “Edgewater, NJ and Fort Lee, NJ and Cliffside Park, NJ” Facebook group continue to express their displeasure.
They are convinced the music is emanating from a restaurant and club in Harlem that features an open-air lounge with views of the city skyline.
New Jersey residents residing across the water from NYC are demanding explanations. (iStock)
Other residents find this puzzling. The establishment some are pointing to ceased operations two years ago.
Some members of the Facebook group reported that the sound was so intense it felt as though it were in their own backyards.
A few described it as a resonant throb that causes vibrations. Others mentioned music blaring throughout the night.
“Sound travels more effectively over water compared to through wooded areas or across grassy fields,” Bennett Brooks, president of Brooks Acoustics Corporation, a firm with offices in Connecticut and Florida, told Fox News Digital.
“However, a moderate wind blowing along the river can disrupt the sound propagation,” he added.
“Sound travels more effectively over water compared to through wooded areas or across grassy fields,” an expert stated. (Kena Betancur/VIEWpress)
Brooks is not convinced that the noise is originating from Harlem. In his professional opinion, the source could be local.
He commented that enforcing regulations becomes more complicated when dealing with two different states rather than just one.
New York City’s noise ordinance is formulated to strike a balance between the city’s vibrant nightlife and the well-being of its inhabitants, according to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Revised in 2007, the regulations concentrate on limiting “excessive and unreasonable” noise that could adversely affect health and safety. The DEP and NYPD are responsible for enforcement.
Certain residents of New Jersey are convinced the noise originates from Harlem in New York. Others dispute this assertion. (iStock)
The guidelines suggest that ambient noise levels in bustling areas can make assessing violations more challenging.
If the sound is indeed originating from Harlem, then “New Jersey and New York would need to reach a mutual agreement,” Brooks explained. He proposed that if the source can be definitively pinpointed, civil legal action might become necessary.
Specific restrictions are in place for common noise generators such as construction, traffic, animals, air conditioning units, food vendors, garbage trucks, and amplified music.
For establishments featuring music, sound levels must not surpass 42 decibels indoors in residences, and between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., it must remain within 7 decibels above the ambient noise level of the surrounding street.
“In an urban environment, sound reflects off structures, making the precise direction of origin difficult to ascertain,” Brooks remarked.