Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

The predominantly student populated neighborhoods that surround the university come alive on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays nights.  Walking in between Rugby Road and 14th Street it is almost impossible to escape the sounds of music and laughter intermixed with the opening of beer cans and the shouts of partygoers. For most students the weekends are a harmless outlet and a break from their school and work obligations.  However, not all members of the Charlottesville community see it that way. Members of the Venable and University Circle neighborhoods have approached the Charlottesville City Council with legislation intended to crack down on what they view as the excessive noise generated by student parties. As it stands,

           

            "[P]eople found in violation face a class four misdemeanor,which is punishable with a fine of up   to$250 and no jail time. But with proposed changes, multiple violations couldresult in higher            fines and jailtime, including a penalty of six months behind bars and a $1,000 fine for asecond o      ffense, and a year in jailand $2,500 fine for three or more offenses."

           

The noise pollution generated by these parties spills over into the surrounding residential areas and is one example of a serious negative externality associated with living near student housing. This past summer representatives from the affected neighborhood associations went before the Charlottesville City Council [at a time when most students were not in town] to try and solve the problem. Johnson's chapter on voting, rational abstention, and ration ignorance highlights many of the costs associated with voting and political information seeking. Had out-of-state students wished to participate in the noise ordinance discussion before the city council they would have had to expend considerably more resources than a Charlottesville local. Locals have a much greater incentive to "gather and retain information about issues" and will likely be more successful in shaping Charlottesville's laws.