Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
New Yorkers' Favorite Thing To Complain About: Noise
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 19, 2014
Modified Jan 19, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 19, 2014
Modified Jan 19, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New Yorkers know that it is our God-given right to vocally complain about all sorts of trivial and not-so-trivial things, including rats, street lights, dog poop, excessive Jewish holidays, and refrigerator squeaks. But the number one quality-of-life complaint in NYC? The one complaint to unite a city? Noise.
According to AP, "a city hotline" received more than 260,000 noise complaints last year. We previously looked at 311 data about noise complaints and found that Williamsburg received the most calls about excessive volume. But the city identified a few more areas as frequent sources of complaints, including Times Square, the subways (which we already knew were making us deaf), DUMBO (which we know all too well), the Rivergate apartment building on 34th Street, and parts of Queens near JFK and LaGuardia.
We can add to this list that Woodside residents are extremely annoyed by "loud talking." But there's such a rich tapestry of things NYers love to complain about that it feels unfair to focus on just one thing—not when NYers are being forced to live in proximity to other New Yorkers, not when parents are au natural toilet training their children, not when there are self-parodying NY Times trend pieces and adult kickball leagues. And certainly not while there are bike lanes, socialist mayors and artesinal-breakfast connoisseurs still around.
Tagged
complaints
Times Square
loud
311
subway
noise
dumbo
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
The DSA's NYC chapter accused the NYPD of collaborating with ICE and demanded Mayor Mamdani hold Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch responsible.
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
News
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
When officers arrived on the scene in Allerton Friday afternoon, they found three pedestrians who were unconscious with trauma to the head and body, according to the NYPD. Two individuals later died.
By
Kaya Laterman
NY will opt in Trump’s school choice program, Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Residents, lawmakers warned for months of potential for deadly ICE activity in Marble Hill
By
David Brand
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .