Letter to Massport

On September 4, 2014, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

By a frustrated Somerville resident

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

 

EVERY THIRTY SECONDS. Every thirty seconds starting at 6 a.m. this morning (a Sunday!) we’ve had to deal with the constant roar of planes that sound like they’re about to land on our roof. Are you serious with this?! I sleep directly next to my air conditioner and I could STILL hear every single plane that came (and continues to come) by (since I started writing this, 3 planes have gone overhead). The last plane barely passes out of earshot when the next one starts up, and no, that is not a gross over-exaggeration.

I’ve lived in this City, mostly in this same house, for 30 years (my entire life), and though this noise has gotten to be much more of a nuisance in recent years, this is by far and away the most terrible it has ever been. It is honestly almost life changing, and NOT in a good way. This weekend I happen to be pretty ill, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to sleep, rest, or THINK due to the severity of the noise – both the frequency of the planes and the volume of the engines due to their low height.

It’s next to impossible to hold a conversation with someone you’re sitting next to, whether you’re indoors or outdoors, when the planes pass by, which has been every 30-60 seconds recently, so you came imagine how hard it is to talk to anyone (PS- 3 more have now gone by).

This morning I actually got so frustrated I screamed into my pillow. This is complete insanity.

MAKE. IT. STOP.

For the first time ever, I am dreading Labor Day Weekend because we can’t have a BBQ or gathering with friends because it is really too much to be outside for any length of time trying to function (another 2 planes…)

MAKE. IT. STOP.

We have some level of tolerance. We know we live in an urban community close to an airport. Every 30-60 seconds for going on 4.5 hours now borders on abuse. I’d honestly not be shocked if the number of people who present for psych. evals at local hospitals hasn’t gone up in recent weeks. It is that bad. It’s grating on anyone’s anxiety and seriously tests everyone’s patience. (2 more planes).

If you were counting, there have been 10 planes in the less than 7 minutes it’s taken me to write this email. TEN. (Nope, just went back to proofread…another plane has since flown overhead. ELEVEN.)

MAKE IT STOP.

 

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