Hello Nancy,

Apologies for the delay getting back about the Greek festival, but Ive been
burdened with, among other things, health issues that resulted from its loud
repetitive noise.
Attached is my log of decibel readings and a short video taken from my front
porch during the festival. Please note the dark - lower volume than actual - video
was included only to exemplify the repetitive beat of the amplified noise. More
specifically, the festival generated 2 separate loud and repetitive beats from 2
large amplification systems. The eastern most was directed toward the east and
bounced around off the hills while the second larger, and thus louder, system
was directed more northwesterly and nearly in line with my driveway directly
across the street. When combined, the effect sounded like one loud beat coming
in one ear with a second louder and different beat entering the other. In
addition, festival administrators exceeded their noise permit by 1.5 hours. As a
result, I was forced to endure 31.5 hours of this type of loud repetitive
noise over 3 consecutive days.
Not surprisingly, surrounding neighbors were also affected by the noise based on
their respective proximity to the direction of the amplification systems. For
example, I was told by 2 separate neighbors that each year the excessively
amplified festival noise is enough to drive them and their families
from their homes (and neighborhood) for the duration. In contrast, a neighbor
from a different area and not in line with either amplification system reported to
me that she enjoyed the distant sounds and that if anything her efforts would be
spent urging city administrators to maintain the [patently illegal] status-quo,
regardless of its adverse effect on her neighbors. Not unlike my experience, still
others reported the expected chronic migraines and/or body tension and stresses
that are normally associated with this type of persistent frequency disruption. In
fact repetitive music has long been used as a very effective tool of
torture. According to Dr Michael Peel of the Medical Foundation for the Care of
Victims of Torture, "Music is used to make the detainee aware that he has no
control over what's going on in any of his senses. Deprivation of normal sensory
stimulation and lack of control over one's environment is a disempowerment that
eventually dehumanizes people." "In this sense, the choice of any individual track
quickly becomes irrelevant: the desired effect is achieved through volume and
repetition and the normal connotations - from lyrics or cultural associations mean very little."
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7495175.stm

Another relevant quote I'd like to include for you here is from a former
Guantanamo Bay prisoner named Ruhal. Reflecting on the practice of music
torture he said: "It's worse than physical pain because you can't block it out and
you feel that you are losing your mind."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ph36x
Bottom line here is the impact on human health from this type of repetitive noise
is well understood scientifically to exceed nearly all other types of noise pollution
whether from stadium, siren, construction, and/or railroad sources. Of course
beyond practical are legal concerns regarding whether the largest and potentially
loudest festival of its type in the United States (according to Wikipedia) will be
permitted to continue operating in perpetuity in this manner, and in (of all
places) a residential setting.
Therefore I've chosen to pursue that the festival be moved to a more suitable
location. At minimum, if allowed to remain in our neighborhood, operating permits
for all forms of amplified sound should be denied.
Thank you [once more] for your attention on this important matter,

Decibel Log- Greek Festival 2013

Note:
The following readings were taken by
on my property at
(directly across from the Greek Church). Readings were taken
with a RadioShack model #3300099 digital sound level meter. Readings
were collected at distances of approx. 300-450ft from the festivals main
stage.
A measures the noise level of an area, C measures the musical sound
levels.
Police were called 4 times over the 3 day festival.
Fri. 5-17-13
(Note: C readings were not collected this day)
7:30am Front porch (approx. 300ft from stage) A 40-41 w/o cars driving by
7:30am Front porch A 46-49 w/ cars driving by
12:35pm Front porch A 49-52 music begins
1:30pm (approx.) Music stops (or volume is very low)
5:00pm (approx.) Begin hearing music again
5:50pm Front porch A 49-53
6:45pm Front porch A 52-55
7:25pm Front porch A 51-55
8:10pm Below house A 53-56
8:36pm Inside house, kitchen A 46-49
8:37pm Inside house, breakfast room A 46-48
8:38pm Front porch A 50-53
8:45pm Called police (1st time)
10:00pm Music ends
Sat. 5-18-13
10:30am Amplified music begins, thereby violating their sound permit
10:50am Music volume louder
10:55am Called police (2nd time)
11:45am Front porch A 48-51, C56-60
12:58pm Front porch A 52-54, C 59-65
2:14pm Called police (3rd time) car blocking driveway. (Dark Honda wagon
)
4:28pm Below house by truck (400ft away from stage) A 50-55, C 57-64
4:29pm By shed (approx. 450ft away from stage) A 54-58, C 62-67
4:48pm By shed A 55-59, C 65-70

8:30pm Front of garage, (different music in each ear worse) A 47-50, C

59-67
9:35pm Front porch A 51-56, C 58-66
10:00pm Music ends
Sun. 5-19-13
1:05pm Front porch A 46-49, C 61-68
1:40pm Front porch A 55-58, C 58-65
1:42pm Front porch A 50-55, C 67-71
2:10pm Called police (4th time)
7:30pm Front porch A 51-55, C 69-75
9:15pm Front porch A 49-51, C 69-71
9:20pm Front porch, recorded video for sound
9:36pm Inside house, breakfast room A 44-46, C 54-58
9:39pm Front porch A 53-55, C 63-67
9:48pm Front porch A 51-53, C 69-74
9:50pm Music ends

From:
To:
Subject:
Date:

Marcus, Nancy
Fwd: Greek Festival noise
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 11:03:26 PM

Nancy,
I was contacted by
, expressing her dissatisfaction with this year's Greek Festival.
My family and I have been neighbors to the Greek Church for more than 50 years, and we
could not feel differently about the Church and the Festival. We thoroughly enjoy having the
Greek Church and community as our neighbors and look forward each year to the annual
Festival. The Church understands well the inconveniences that the annual Festival can place
upon our neighborhood, and in my experience the Church has always been anxious to work
with the other neighbors to minimize these impacts. We enjoy the amplified music and
celebrations, opening our windows to take it all in. No complaints here.
(My reply to

initial message is included below.)

Thank you,
-

my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Date: May 21, 2013, 10:50:55 PM PDT
To: "
Subject: Re: Greek Festival noise

I'm sorry to hear that you were inconvenienced or in any way negatively impacted
by the Greek Festival. I've always found the Greek Church and community to be
good and considerate neighbors. For many years, Father Tom has been a caring
and active member of our neighborhood. I look forward to the Festival each
year. I know the Festival brings with it the complicating issues of traffic,
parking, people and noise, but I see these as short term inconveniences, given the
nature and popularity of the annual event. I'm happy this event takes place in our
neighborhood. And I enjoy being able to open our windows to hear the music

and activity of the Festival. If you haven't already spoken with the Church about
your concerns, I hope you will. I think you will find them to be considerate
neighbors, anxious to work with you as much as possible to reduce any negative
experiences.
I hope all else continues well for you.
All my best,
-

Sent from my iPhone

On May 21, 2013, at 8:33 AM,

wrote:

Hello neighbors,
Did you enjoy the festival noise? Did it bother you like it
did me? Last week, before the festival began, I
contacted the City Permit Dept. with my concerns. The
festival organizers were granted two permits, one for
Special Events and one for Outdoor Sound
Amplification. Special provisions were added to the
sound permit to control the noise, but unfortunately a
police officer must respond inpersonand officers in
Oakland are fartoo busyto do that.
The festival violated their noise permit. For instance,
Sat.morning they began amplified music at
approx.10:30 am when their permit clearly states that
they can only have amplified music between 12pm and
10pm. That's 1.5 hours inadditionto the 30 hours we
are already being forced to endure. Nancy Marcus told
me that the festival organizers wanted to have
amplified music until 11pm,but she turned them down.
Nancy is the person who issued their sound permit and

has told me that if neighbors are bothered by the

noisethey need to either call or email heras sheneeds
to see numbers.If she is able to document that the
neighbors are not happy about having a large, loud
festival in their neighborhoodshe,alongwithSgt.
Espenoza in Special Event Permits,may choose to
deny them permits next year therebyforcing them to
move to another venue.
Personally, I think it is high time they are banned from
having this festival in our neighborhood.If you feel as I
do, please call or email Nancy ASAP and tell her why
you are against the festival being held at the
churchand how it impactsyou.
Also, if you'd like a copy of the Sound Permit, Noise
Ordinance, or Nancy's email to the festival manager, I'd
be happy to email themto you.
Your neighbor,

Contact :
Nancy Marcus: Sound Permits 238-3294
NMarcus@oaklandnet.com
Sgt. Espenoza: Special Events Permits 777-8525

From:
To:
Subject:
Date:

Marcus, Nancy
Re: Greek Festival noise
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 9:06:09 PM

Thanks Nancy, appreciate it. Sorry for the corrupted over-sized text on the last line.

-----Original Message----From: Marcus, Nancy <NMarcus@oaklandnet.com>

To:
Sent: Wed, Jun 12, 2013 9:35 am
Subject: RE: Greek Festival noise

Thanks for the report. I have passed on to Sgt. Espinoza and Council Person Libby
Schaaf as well.

Nancy

From:
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 9:09 AM
To: Marcus, Nancy
Subject: Greek Festival noise

Hello Nancy,

Apologies for the delay getting back about the Greek festival, but Ive been
burdened with,among other things,health issues that resulted from its
loudrepetitive noise.

Attached is my log of decibel readings and a short video taken from my front
porch during the festival.Please note the dark-lower volume than
actual-video was included only to exemplify the repetitive beat of the
amplifiednoise.More specifically,the festival generated 2 separateloud
and repetitive beats from 2 large amplification systems.The eastern most
was directed toward the east and bounced around off the hillswhile the
secondlarger,and thus louder,system was directed more northwesterly
and nearly in line with my driveway directly across the street.When
combined,the effect sounded like one loud beat coming in one ear with a
second louderanddifferentbeat entering the other.In addition,festival
administrators exceeded their noise permit by 1.5 hours.As a result,I was
forced to endure 31.5 hours of this type of loud repetitive noiseover3
consecutive days.

Not surprisingly, surrounding neighbors were also affected by the noise

based on their respective proximity to the direction of the amplification

systems.For example,I was told by2separateneighborsthat each
yeartheexcessively amplified festival noise is enough to drive them and
their families fromtheirhomes(and neighborhood)for the duration.In
contrast, a neighbor from a different area and not in line with either
amplification system reported to me that she enjoyed the distant sounds
and that if anything her efforts would be spent urging city administrators to
maintain the [patently illegal] status-quo, regardless of its adverse effect on
her neighbors.Not unlike my experience, still others reported the expected
chronic migraines and/or body tension and stresses that are normally
associated with this type of persistentfrequency disruption. In fact
repetitive music has long been used asa very effective tool of torture.
According toDr Michael Peel of the Medical Foundation for the Care of
Victims ofTorture, "Music is used to make the detainee aware that he has
no control over what's going on in any of his senses. Deprivation of normal
sensory stimulation and lack of control over one's environment is a
disempowerment that eventually dehumanizes people." "In this sense, the
choice of any individual track quickly becomes irrelevant: the desired effect
is achieved throughvolume and repetitionand the normal connotations from lyrics or cultural associations - mean very little."
Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7495175.stm
AnotherrelevantquoteI'd liketo includeforyouhereis
fromaformerGuantanamoBayprisonernamedRuhal.Reflecting on the
practice ofmusic torturehesaid: "It's worse than physical pain because
you can't block it out and you feel that you are losing your mind."
Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ph36x

Bottomlinehereistheimpactonhumanhealthfromthis type of repetitive

noise iswellunderstood scientifically to exceed nearly all other types of
noise pollution whether from stadium, siren, construction, and/or railroad
sources.Of course beyond practical are legal concerns regarding whether
the largest andpotentiallyloudest festival of its type in the United States
(according to Wikipedia) will be permitted to continue operating in
perpetuity in this manner, and in(of all places)a residential setting.

Therefore I've chosen to pursue that the festival be moved to a more

suitable location. At minimum, if allowed to remain in our neighborhood,

operating permits for all forms ofamplifiedsound should be denied.

Thank youoncemorefor yourattentiononthis

important matter,