C. Carlson
New Haven, CT

To whom it may concern:

The boom/vroom cars have destroyed my neighborhood and made it impossible for me to continue to live here. It began with one family who were insistent on parking in front of their house and playing these horrible stereos as loud as possible for hours at a time. This wasn't passing boom cars which are also unbearable but a stationary assault for a considerable time. The young males involved were big and strong in appearance and the neighbors didn't complain out of fear I am sure. In three years several houses have turned over twice. Never to the betterment of the area. I confronted the thugs and asked them to stop. They would stop temporarily and then begin again. I called the police countless times but the response was slow at best and not at all at worst. Finally, they have quieted down but too late. The people who replaced my former neighbors are also boom/vroom aficionados. The neighborhood has suffered in reduced property values and other side effects of this kind of activity. The street is littered with trash and in warm weather the comings and goings at all hours of the night will not allow anyone a good night's sleep. I have to sell my home which is paid for and mortgage free and take on another payment when I thought I would be able to cruise into retirement.

I have suffered physically from this assault both in sleep deprivation and increase adrenaline production. Increased adrenaline production is the cause of many problems including but not limited to high blood pressure and heart disease. I fear that I will be provoked to violence someday and this would not be in keeping with my personality. My sense of security is in shambles and it effects the quality of my life. It literally makes me sick to be exposed to this constant assault on my body. I feel as well as hear this noise and it is, I am sure, shortening my expected life span.

In addition to how this affects me personally, I fear for the children who are exposed to it not only by living here but, in some cases, living and riding with the people who are creating this noise assault. It is well known that their intelligence and hearing are affected in the extreme. How sad and how disastrous for us as a country that these kids are our future. We will pay the bill for the mistakes of these kids down the road. We always do. We can correct this situation and we must.

C. Carlson
New Haven, CT