Officials keep noise violators on radar

NORTH END -- Inside Ian Tasso's apartment, a thumping beat of his stereo's bass rattled the walls. Girls sang along while they danced on the living room couch. Screams erupted from a game of beer pong in the kitchen.


Hours after the party began on Salem Street three stern knocks to the door silenced the student filled apartment.


"We were nervous as hell," said Tasso, a 21-year-old Emerson College junior. "I can't really blame the people below us for calling the police. A lot more people showed up than we expected and we got a little rowdy."


City and state officials say noise has been an increasing problem in the North End. Last year there were 340 noise complaints, keeping with the average for the previous five years.


"We never had this when I was a kid," said State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, who represents the North End. "Some people just don't care. They don't have any respect for the people that live here, and that is a problem."


Residents and officials blame the noise on the increasing population of college students in the area. Some cite specific areas as being trouble spots in the neighborhood.


"It can also get pretty noisy at night, especially around Hanover Street," said Matt Conti, creator of NorthEndWaterFront.com, a North End blog.


Other residents say the problem isn't specific to one area or group of people.


"It is college students but it's not just college students," Michlewitz said. "And it's not just Hanover Street. It's wherever kids are having parties.The neighborhood is a younger group of people now and I guess with that can come noise."


City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina, chair of the Problem Properties Task Force, is working with Emerson and Suffolk colleges, as well as the Boston Police Department, to reduce noise problems in the neighborhood.


"We just try to keep certain properties on the radar," said Stephen Passacantilli, the councilor's director of constituent services. "I think the Boston Police do a really good job of that."


Since the initial scare of a $300 fine for a noise violation, Tasso says he has made sure to be respectful and keep the noise level to a respectful volume.


"The cops made it blatantly obvious that if they had to come back we would be arrested," he said. "We've made sure that if we have people over, it's never more than 10, and we keep it down."