Residents on West 86th Street are experiencing some unusual nighttime disturbances, thanks to what many believed to be a disco ball lighting up the area.
The colorful purple glow is reportedly coming from the ninth floor of the Dexter House hostel, located between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive. While some locals are simply amused, others have expressed frustration over the so-called “disco guys” creating what they call “light pollution.”
“All the apartments across the street have lights blinking through their windows all night,” complained one anonymous resident. They even contacted the non-emergency police line but were told there wasn’t much to be done since no laws were actually being broken.
As the chatter continued, a few residents hinted that the individuals responsible for the flashing lights weren’t exactly neighborly. One individual quipped, “Should we also defend the people who tap dance upstairs from 3 am to 5 am?” Another felt that the management of Mirror Ball wasn’t living up to neighborly expectations.
Concerns about health consequences due to the lights have also surfaced, with some asserting that light pollution can have serious effects, including the possibility of triggering seizures.
A resident on the ninth floor clarified that the glowing nuisance was actually from some $2.50 pulsating Christmas lights, not a disco ball. He seemed perplexed by the uproar, stating he didn’t realize his decoration had caused such a stir. “I never thought this would be an issue,” he shared, speaking in Spanish and choosing to remain anonymous. Meanwhile, a doorman at the building mentioned he hadn’t received any complaints about the lights.
The resident, who has lived there for about six months, admitted he bought the festive light to brighten his room during the holidays. “I’m just enjoying my time here, feeling peaceful,” he remarked, adding that when he heard about the complaints, he took the light down and gave it to a friend and neighbor, Carol Moody.
Moody praised him for his quick response, expressing disbelief over the situation. “People should have just talked to him instead of causing all this fuss.” Most responses from the community seemed to side with the resident, with many noting the atmosphere he had intended was quite different from the uproar.
Some commenters had a lighthearted take, suggesting that the complainants might want to consider simple solutions like curtains. “Sounds like a case of UWS privilege,” one even remarked. Others defended the sparkly lights, arguing that a little disco fun wouldn’t hurt anyone.
