Civic movement prompts city officials to act on noise problem…
The president of the National Chamber of Commerce of Merida (Canaco), Michel Salum Francis, denied that there will be negative impact on musicians and bars by stipulating a fixed schedule during which the venues can have live music.
The business leader rejected that this issue will end the fun and wreak havoc in establishments of this type, although he reiterated that the new regulations define the hours this type of entertainment will be permitted.
“Live music such as trumpets and percussions, on terraces, can play until 11:30 at night, which is going to be the schedule. After that time, they can have ambient music that does not affect anyone, they’re not killing the business, and if they want to have live music together, it’s going to have to be inside the venue,” he explained.
Salum Francis pointed out that the establishment will have to make soundproofing adjustments to avoid impact, so that the people who live in the Historic Center and those who stay at hotels can rest.
The version of the reform of the Merida Urban Development Department regulation has only allowed music to be played before midnight, although this version has been rejected by the business sector, which has manifested itself in favor that there is order in this matter.
“In the center there is room for commerce, business, there are services and tourism and you can not cut any. We are not interested in anyone leaving. There has to be an order and this has been stipulated; the businesses will have to make adjustments, when renewing their land-use licenses. That will make them have to stick to all this,” Salum Francis said.
“It’s not just winning, winning, winning and not investing in anything. Then, we must invest, we must adapt to the new rules, to the rules of coexistence, and I believe that with a good job it will be very good and nothing will happen, life in the center will continue. And this is not just the center, this law is for all places throughout the city,” he said.
The issue of noise has generated a wave of comments both in favor and against the problem, including demonstrations of residents outraged by the noise problem.
So far there is no date for the new rules to be discussed and approved by the Mérida City Council, although it is expected to be in the near future.
The new regulation would be a reform of the city’s Urban Development code and would apply to alcohol and music venues, discotheques, bars and restaurants.
Salum Francis warned that bars, restaurants and nightclubs will have to make the necessary improvements to avoid noise, once the city council approves the new regulation.
The business leader said the goal is to minimize damage to residents and visitors, so that there are no bad grades for Mérida in tourism matter.
“There will be a schedule, we have to respect it, especially in live music outside. The establishments can have live music all night in a closed place that is completely soundproof and approved by experts in the subject, that way you do not sacrifice fun,” he said.
He said that businesses that are already in operation will have to comply with the new regulations when renewing their land use license, so that when they enter into force, they will already be subject to reviews by the authority. If they do not comply they will have a sanction.
He asserted that the merchants have received the measure in a positive way, although he insisted that they have to adapt if they want to avoid conflicts.
“You have to invest, you have to measure up and understand that there has to be healthy coexistence without harming anyone,” he said.
Residents from several neighborhoods of downtown Mérida and hotel guests in this area expressed their rejection of the noise generated by several establishments in the early hours of the morning, and many homeowners have unfurled banners on their houses to demand an end to this problem.
Authorities, residents and merchants initiated a series of dialogues to address the issue, which led to the proposal to modify the current regulations, although reviews were also undertaken in several nightclubs that resulted in the closure of at least 10 establishments.
Héctor Navarrete Medina, president of the Mexican Association of Hotels of Yucatan, confirmed the economic damage due to excessive noise at night.
“We have asked the establishments that have this type of events and shows to soundproof their spaces. They can have live music, but in closed places where the sound does not harm the resting conditions of tourists and visitors who spend the night in the hotels of the Historic Center,” he said.
He explained that the measure does not intend to close sources of employment and damage the bars and cantinas of the Historic Center that work at night.
The regulation has modifications that music venues will have to fulfill, among them the volume and capacity of decibels after certain hour of the night. In addition, you must adapt your spaces to locate speakers and volume at a range that does not impact the outside.
With the approval of this new regulation of Urban Development, the authority must constantly verify the emission of sound by the venues where live music is presented.
This regulation, he said, also requires venues to supervise customers, adding greater vigilance to those who scandalize the streets, perform their physiological needs, abuse drinks and cause harm to others.
Text: Acom and Punto Medio
Photo: Punto Medio
