(See Part 1 here)
Life does imitate art – the end of this story was remarkably like the classic scene in the Academy Award-winning 1976 film Network, where news anchor Howard Beale is so angry, he persuades TV viewers across the nation to stick their heads out of a window and scream, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take this anymore!” If you are not familiar with it, I suggest you see it here before you continue this story.
Trust me when I tell you that in all the decades I have lived in this city, I have seen many hostile interventions during street performers’ acts. Very belligerent heckling, some nearly stopping the show. But I have never seen anything like this.
An older woman appeared with her dog in tow, stood prominently in the center of the group, and began screaming “SHUT UP” repeatedly to the audience and the singers. The group, not to be upstaged, continued singing.
This woman was SCREAMING at the top of her lungs – shrieking, clenching her fists, and shaking. I was genuinely concerned that she would have a heart attack and that her next battle with noise would be with an ambulance siren.
She would not stop, and when audience members began responding that they were enjoying a quality performance, she screamed, “Take them home with you.” She vehemently stated that she was a neighborhood resident living across the street, facing the area where the singers and crowd were located. She further claimed that they had been singing for at least 6 hours per day for three days in a row and that she was at wits end – apparently she was mad as hell and was not gonna take it anymore.
After some time, one of the singers apologized to her and the audience, stating that her wishes should be respected. Another one of the singers told her to calm down and assured her, “You win”.
I spoke for a short time to this woman. I expressed my understanding of the dilemma and told her that I also was a long-time neighborhood resident living over a park and have had my own issues with noise. I, along with others, pointed out that this is New York City. Worse, it was Greenwich Village on Bleecker Street. If she lived on the Upper East Side on a side street, I am sure that she would have the quiet enjoyment she is entitled to. But this is Greenwich Village, and I would guess she chose this neighborhood for its iconoclastic nature, but with that comes a price. It is a mecca for culture, the arts, and entertainment, with clubs, restaurants, theaters, galleries, shops, and plenty of street life. This environment will attract both tourists and performers.
There is also a lot of noise and a greater tolerance by all, including the police. I asked if she ever called the police. She said she has but nothing happens. My own personal solution is to plan around noisy events – I often will just leave my home. Principle and rights are one thing, but City Hall opens on Monday morning, and this is Saturday night. Accuse me of resignation or of being a man unwilling to fight for his rights. I’m a pragmatist, and being mad as hell will get me nowhere.
