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Shocker: NYC DEP claims it has no records regarding Barclays Center noise complaints (updated)

Update: DEP says it will produce such records, blaming the denial on the way records are coded in the system; there is a "Barclays Center" file but not a "620 Atlantic Avenue" one.

Just in time for the Atlantic Yards Quality of Life Committee meeting tomorrow, I finally got a non-answer to an attempt to find out exactly how the city had examined noise problems at the Barclays Center.

My 6/11/13 Freedom of Information Law request to the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sought:
Noise complaints and inspections regarding the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn. Documents may cite the arena operating company, Brooklyn Events Center, or the owner of that company, Forest City Ratner. I also seek copies of records, including but not limited to correspondence to/from representatives of the Barclays Center, Brooklyn Events Center, and Forest City Ratner, regarding noise inspections and complaints regarding that facility.
The response, as the document reproduced below asserts, was that the DEP had no such documents.

That's preposterous. The DEP has already attempted to levy more than one fine against the arena, with one such fine dismissed and another finally sticking. The problems have persisted, as have complaints about bass penetrating residences. They have to be creating some records.

This is low-hanging fruit if and when an elected official--such as incoming Public Advocate Letitia James, who currently represents the 35th Council District, or her successor, Laurie Cumbo--chooses to dig deeper.

Comments

  1. Anonymous2:56 PM

    Some of my neighbors called 311 to complain and we also called the community liaison Derek from ESD. Around and around and around we went. We then called Joe Chan's office knowing he was a political hack at ESD but lived in Brooklyn and was very familiar with the issue. That phone call went unanswered so we called again.

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