Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

We were at the Silver Spring farmer's market. My spouse went up to the speaker and told him that he was violating the code and he said "call the police" My spouse did and the police said they were told not to do anything by the people in charge of Montgomery county..so unless we start complaining nothing is going to be done.

You can't enjoy the farmer's market nor Veteran's plaza with the noise. I also hate the Hare Krishna's who also are loud

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

If the police enforced noise ordinances to remove these people, activists and politicians would immediately complain and the MCPD commander would be out of a job. Police will do something about it when they know that their actions are not second guessed and criticized.

Maybe, but if this happened in downtown Bethesda, do you think it would be allowed? My guess is no, and that's because the businesses and residents of Bethesda are more vigilant about not allowing this sort of behavior, and they would complain repeatedly to the police and elected officials. The people of Silver Spring like to complain but then don't take actions consistent with those complaints, or they are just more willing to believe that these nuisances are somehow a necessary evil associated with downtown areas and so we must tolerate them.

That’s because the activists and politicians in Bethesda are different and have different values/constituencies.

What exactly is the value in having someone yelling hateful messages into a microphone, and who is the constituency that supports it? Serious question. I'm puzzled as to why anyone supports this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

If the police enforced noise ordinances to remove these people, activists and politicians would immediately complain and the MCPD commander would be out of a job. Police will do something about it when they know that their actions are not second guessed and criticized.

Maybe, but if this happened in downtown Bethesda, do you think it would be allowed? My guess is no, and that's because the businesses and residents of Bethesda are more vigilant about not allowing this sort of behavior, and they would complain repeatedly to the police and elected officials. The people of Silver Spring like to complain but then don't take actions consistent with those complaints, or they are just more willing to believe that these nuisances are somehow a necessary evil associated with downtown areas and so we must tolerate them.

That’s because the activists and politicians in Bethesda are different and have different values/constituencies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

We were at the Silver Spring farmer's market. My spouse went up to the speaker and told him that he was violating the code and he said "call the police" My spouse did and the police said they were told not to do anything by the people in charge of Montgomery county..so unless we start complaining nothing is going to be done.

You can't enjoy the farmer's market nor Veteran's plaza with the noise. I also hate the Hare Krishna's who also are loud

Thank you for trying to do your part. It really does take a lot of people calling, and doing it every time these people are out there, plus being persistent with elected leaders. Similar to you, police have told me that isolated calls about noise are basically ignored.

Didn’t you read the post? There is no amount of calling the police that will lead them to do anything. If you are calling the police to address this, you are calling the wrong people. If you want this to stop you need to take all of that energy and have a hundred people call your Councilmembers. They are the reason why the police will not enforce the law and they have the power to change that. And if your Councilmembers refuse to do anything, then you need to vote for different people. That’s it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

We were at the Silver Spring farmer's market. My spouse went up to the speaker and told him that he was violating the code and he said "call the police" My spouse did and the police said they were told not to do anything by the people in charge of Montgomery county..so unless we start complaining nothing is going to be done.

You can't enjoy the farmer's market nor Veteran's plaza with the noise. I also hate the Hare Krishna's who also are loud

Thank you for trying to do your part. It really does take a lot of people calling, and doing it every time these people are out there, plus being persistent with elected leaders. Similar to you, police have told me that isolated calls about noise are basically ignored.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

If the police enforced noise ordinances to remove these people, activists and politicians would immediately complain and the MCPD commander would be out of a job. Police will do something about it when they know that their actions are not second guessed and criticized.

Maybe, but if this happened in downtown Bethesda, do you think it would be allowed? My guess is no, and that's because the businesses and residents of Bethesda are more vigilant about not allowing this sort of behavior, and they would complain repeatedly to the police and elected officials. The people of Silver Spring like to complain but then don't take actions consistent with those complaints, or they are just more willing to believe that these nuisances are somehow a necessary evil associated with downtown areas and so we must tolerate them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

We were at the Silver Spring farmer's market. My spouse went up to the speaker and told him that he was violating the code and he said "call the police" My spouse did and the police said they were told not to do anything by the people in charge of Montgomery county..so unless we start complaining nothing is going to be done.

You can't enjoy the farmer's market nor Veteran's plaza with the noise. I also hate the Hare Krishna's who also are loud

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Do you really think the police are powerless? There is a noise law that the police can enforce, and I'm guessing getting fined every day and told to stop under threat of arrest would go a long way toward getting them to go away. Do you really think that if they showed up on some random residential street, this would be allowed? Maybe the police give them more leeway because that plaza hosts concerts, and so it's just generally viewed as a noisy place and the police don't want to draw lines, but there's nothing wrong with allowing occasional concerts and not allowed random people with a microphone. But it will take a group of people calling the police and/or their elected officials a lot, and probably no one is motivated enough to take it on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for the vendors who have to listen to hours of shouting “preaching” through speakers - it’s about 33% bible related, 33% black empowerment messages and 33% the white man is your enemy messages. It is loud and aggressive.

Eh, most of that is right on Fenton. The vendors are more likely to be listening to the folk music, or the extremely talented high school flautist who often busks over by the civic center.

The DTSS Farmer's Market is a joy, and while I find the Black Israelites annoying, they are also not interested in me (a white woman). They are there to prosthetize to Black folks. Just think of them like Chabad for Black folks. If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for the vendors who have to listen to hours of shouting “preaching” through speakers - it’s about 33% bible related, 33% black empowerment messages and 33% the white man is your enemy messages. It is loud and aggressive.

Eh, most of that is right on Fenton. The vendors are more likely to be listening to the folk music, or the extremely talented high school flautist who often busks over by the civic center.

The DTSS Farmer's Market is a joy, and while I find the Black Israelites annoying, they are also not interested in me (a white woman). They are there to prosthetize to Black folks. Just think of them like Chabad for Black folks. If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police could do something if they wanted. It's above the levels allowed by the noise laws. But if no one complains, it will continue.

Even if people complain what would they do?

Take away the speakers?

Anonymous wrote:That's life in a free society.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for the vendors who have to listen to hours of shouting “preaching” through speakers - it’s about 33% bible related, 33% black empowerment messages and 33% the white man is your enemy messages. It is loud and aggressive.

Eh, most of that is right on Fenton. The vendors are more likely to be listening to the folk music, or the extremely talented high school flautist who often busks over by the civic center.

The DTSS Farmer's Market is a joy, and while I find the Black Israelites annoying, they are also not interested in me (a white woman). They are there to prosthetize to Black folks. Just think of them like Chabad for Black folks. If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.