Recently I attended a public hearing in regard to the mini-ramp regulation in question. They suspended the regulation "temporarily". At the hearing the Mayor of Salt Lake City was in attendance, and made a point to state that a woman had come to him, "practically in tears" over the anxiety caused by her neighbors ramp. This woman also put forth the effort to express her perspective about back yard ramps in a 6 page letter to the Mayor, and the Health Department.
In short this letter goes on to make accusations claiming that mini-ramp noise is just as harmful as second hand smoke. I'm going to go out on a limb, take a wild guess, and assume that this letter was written by my next door neighbor. I can't prove this of course, but it feels fairly obvious considering that I have been so aggressively pursued for having a backyard ramp. It only makes sense that her letters have driven the Health Department to make me a priority target. She actually references my ramp specifically in her letter.
Anyways...I would encourage anyone to read the full letter. It can be viewed here. Below are a few highlighted, word for word quotes you will find in the full letter. Below I have added my own commentary, and responses to each of these ridiculous claims.
"I firmly believe the battle over second-hand noise is equally as important as the battle over second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is very destructive to our physical well being, where as second-hand noise is very destructive to us physically and mentally."
My response: Maybe restaurants should outlaw people talking at their dinner tables just as smoking has been banned from restaurants? Maybe we should just outlaw everything, and keep people indoors watching TV? If you enjoy your back yard you will inevitably hear a vast assortment of "second-hand" noise. Maybe that's what's causing cancer?
"The amount of negative noise - my emotional response is so jarring that even before they begin (riding the ramp), I'm experiencing great anxiety. I have worked for years to have a low resting heart rate, but just dreading the noise beginning again, causes my heart to race so fast, I think it's going to beat right out of my chest."
My response: I don't even know what to say about this? This sounds like an unbalanced person who might have other issues causing problems. I feel like this lady is trying to convince the Health Department that my ramp is single handedly killing her slowly. Literally. I'm sure I'm at great risk since I'm the one actually riding it. I'll be lucky to live past 35 at this rate.
"Time of day- when we are coming home from work desiring tranquility and peace in the sanctuary of our home and yard, or when we would love to peacefully entertain. Even family dinners are disturbed by the noise."
My response: So I guess I don't have the right to enjoy my backyard after my hard days work?
"Duration- can last for hours, usually stopping at sunset."
My response: Ok, to put this into context...first of all, never more then 1 or 2 hours, and yes...never past sunset. This should be one of the things they are happy with.
"Frequency- our neighbor uses it every day, even holidays, and Sundays."
My response: That statement is a blatant lie. First off...the ramp has not been used for 2 years, period. Second, I do NOT use it every single day. On average I use it 2 or 3 days per week. Secondly...Sundays??? Is she trying to press her religious beliefs upon me, and my chosen lifestyle? Skating is a part of the healthy lifestyle I choose to live, and I have every right to do as I please with my Sundays. I'm not trying to tell you that you can't live your lifestyle. I'm not hurting anyone, let me ride my skateboard.
"The source and size of the sound- a huge professional half-pipe that is destroying our health and quality of life."
My response: Wow! A HUGE professional half-pipe! My ramp is 4ft tall people. This is hardly a HUGE professional half-pipe, it's a backyard MINI-RAMP. It's called a mini-ramp for a reason. Destroying your health? Again people...I only ride this thing a couple of days a week, and it's not even that loud. I don't know what to say about a comment like that other then it's warped.
"Commercial ramp and or Community Ramp in a residential community: we feel this ramp is being used commercially and as a community ramp."
My response: Wow! Again...blatant lie. Yes, I will admit I have a friend or two over from time to time to ride the ramp. Commercial Ramp??? Are you insinuating that I'm trying to charge people for riding my ramp, and that I am advertising that people come skate in my back yard? First off...I don't like many people. The last thing I want are droves of people in, and out of my property. I don't know where this lady is coming up with this stuff, but I'll give her an A for creativity.
"Noise pollution is a health issue as well as a very real zoning concern. I assure you these ramps are devaluating properties faster than the mortgage industry."
My response: WoW!!! No wonder the economy isn't recovering, this country is littered with health destroying, and mortgage crisis causing mini-ramps. I'm surprised they haven't discussed this issue in the presidential debates. Again people...this is just another example of a statement from a warped perspective."
"Please help us preserve our mental and physical health, our quality of life, and our right to enjoy our own property by establishing environmentally healthier policies that will protect our county for generations to come."
My response: My thoughts exactly! This is exactly why I have created this petition in the first place. I want to protect my RIGHT to enjoy my own property.
In short this letter goes on to make accusations claiming that mini-ramp noise is just as harmful as second hand smoke. I'm going to go out on a limb, take a wild guess, and assume that this letter was written by my next door neighbor. I can't prove this of course, but it feels fairly obvious considering that I have been so aggressively pursued for having a backyard ramp. It only makes sense that her letters have driven the Health Department to make me a priority target. She actually references my ramp specifically in her letter.
Anyways...I would encourage anyone to read the full letter. It can be viewed here. Below are a few highlighted, word for word quotes you will find in the full letter. Below I have added my own commentary, and responses to each of these ridiculous claims.
"I firmly believe the battle over second-hand noise is equally as important as the battle over second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is very destructive to our physical well being, where as second-hand noise is very destructive to us physically and mentally."
My response: Maybe restaurants should outlaw people talking at their dinner tables just as smoking has been banned from restaurants? Maybe we should just outlaw everything, and keep people indoors watching TV? If you enjoy your back yard you will inevitably hear a vast assortment of "second-hand" noise. Maybe that's what's causing cancer?
"The amount of negative noise - my emotional response is so jarring that even before they begin (riding the ramp), I'm experiencing great anxiety. I have worked for years to have a low resting heart rate, but just dreading the noise beginning again, causes my heart to race so fast, I think it's going to beat right out of my chest."
My response: I don't even know what to say about this? This sounds like an unbalanced person who might have other issues causing problems. I feel like this lady is trying to convince the Health Department that my ramp is single handedly killing her slowly. Literally. I'm sure I'm at great risk since I'm the one actually riding it. I'll be lucky to live past 35 at this rate.
"Time of day- when we are coming home from work desiring tranquility and peace in the sanctuary of our home and yard, or when we would love to peacefully entertain. Even family dinners are disturbed by the noise."
My response: So I guess I don't have the right to enjoy my backyard after my hard days work?
"Duration- can last for hours, usually stopping at sunset."
My response: Ok, to put this into context...first of all, never more then 1 or 2 hours, and yes...never past sunset. This should be one of the things they are happy with.
"Frequency- our neighbor uses it every day, even holidays, and Sundays."
My response: That statement is a blatant lie. First off...the ramp has not been used for 2 years, period. Second, I do NOT use it every single day. On average I use it 2 or 3 days per week. Secondly...Sundays??? Is she trying to press her religious beliefs upon me, and my chosen lifestyle? Skating is a part of the healthy lifestyle I choose to live, and I have every right to do as I please with my Sundays. I'm not trying to tell you that you can't live your lifestyle. I'm not hurting anyone, let me ride my skateboard.
"The source and size of the sound- a huge professional half-pipe that is destroying our health and quality of life."
My response: Wow! A HUGE professional half-pipe! My ramp is 4ft tall people. This is hardly a HUGE professional half-pipe, it's a backyard MINI-RAMP. It's called a mini-ramp for a reason. Destroying your health? Again people...I only ride this thing a couple of days a week, and it's not even that loud. I don't know what to say about a comment like that other then it's warped.
"Commercial ramp and or Community Ramp in a residential community: we feel this ramp is being used commercially and as a community ramp."
My response: Wow! Again...blatant lie. Yes, I will admit I have a friend or two over from time to time to ride the ramp. Commercial Ramp??? Are you insinuating that I'm trying to charge people for riding my ramp, and that I am advertising that people come skate in my back yard? First off...I don't like many people. The last thing I want are droves of people in, and out of my property. I don't know where this lady is coming up with this stuff, but I'll give her an A for creativity.
"Noise pollution is a health issue as well as a very real zoning concern. I assure you these ramps are devaluating properties faster than the mortgage industry."
My response: WoW!!! No wonder the economy isn't recovering, this country is littered with health destroying, and mortgage crisis causing mini-ramps. I'm surprised they haven't discussed this issue in the presidential debates. Again people...this is just another example of a statement from a warped perspective."
"Please help us preserve our mental and physical health, our quality of life, and our right to enjoy our own property by establishing environmentally healthier policies that will protect our county for generations to come."
My response: My thoughts exactly! This is exactly why I have created this petition in the first place. I want to protect my RIGHT to enjoy my own property.
The words of warped perspective: An Anti-MiniRamp letter from an Anti-MiniRamp neighbor