Street Parties and Car Meetups Disrupt Communities
Residents have been quite vocal about the ongoing issues. With increasingly loud car gatherings, high-decibel street parties are becoming a source of frustration, featuring vehicles equipped with booming sound systems.
The noise levels are reportedly exceeding those of planes landing at LaGuardia Airport. These gatherings often include drugs, alcohol, strippers, and even wet t-shirt contests.
“It feels like missiles are being fired from every direction,” said Jay Kane, 40, from Astoria. He mentioned that the sound vibrates through his windows late into the night.
“I try to close the windows, crank up the air conditioning and fans, but the noise still gets through—even during winter,” he added, expressing his growing frustration.
What started as a trend during the Covid-19 pandemic has now turned into all-night events, with sound systems known as “Kitipo” becoming a hallmark of these relentless meetups.
Residents dealing with the disruptive noise have found little support from city officials or the police, leading to a sense of hopelessness. “We’ve exhausted all our options, and it feels like the city has forgotten about us,” Kane reflected.
John DiMario, who co-owns Village Chapels Funeral Home in Middle Village, described the chaos as daunting. “The vibrations energize every part of my home,” he said. “It’s been going on for quite a while, and it’s only getting worse.”
Alfredo Centola, co-founder of a nonprofit in Whitestone, noted that his family has witnessed illegal gatherings multiple times a week, creating a constant “boom, boom, boom” noise that he finds incredibly frustrating.
Locals report that organizers are choosing abandoned industrial areas and mixed-use zones for these events, often within walking distance of NYPD precincts. Meetups are common outside UPS facilities in East Elmhurst and Vaughn College on Randall’s Island.
These car rallies often feature illegal sales of drinks and drugs, along with various unsanctioned activities. In one instance, about ten cars with synchronized sound systems have been seen assembling daily under the Kosciuszko Bridge.
“There’s often noise from gatherings three or four times a week,” noted Natalia Ruzestech, 23, a resident of Eastern Greenpoint. “It’s especially bad on weekends, but sometimes it spills into Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.” She called it a serious issue.
In the Bronx, Dorothea Poggi, president of Friends of Ferry Point Park, added that these disruptive gatherings sometimes lead to crime outbreaks in the area. “People are turning parks and streets into venues for profit without covering the costs,” she said. “Drugs, alcohol, strippers—they’re all part of it. It’s chaos.”
An upcoming major event, the “Outdoor Music Car Show Battle,” is slated for July 13th in Jamaica, Queens. Tickets are typically around $25, and vendors are expected to pay upwards of $535 to participate.
Centola, Poggi, and Rzeszutek, members of a Facebook group dedicated to tackling the noise issue, encourage each other to report disturbances to authorities in hopes of a more prioritized response.
“We formed this group because residents are tired of these underground meetups,” Kane explained. “We’re all waiting for laws that can address these illegal sound systems.”
Alicia Weicunas, deputy chief of staff for city councillor Robert Holden, is actively addressing the noise problem. She recounted how a local woman was threatened for confronting the source of the disruption.
“This happens in just a few spots in Maspeth,” Weicunas said. “When police chase them away, they just relocate, and we have to bring officers back repeatedly.”
In March 2024, Holden introduced a bill aimed at increasing civil penalties for excessive noise from personal audio devices. While he was able to curtail some gatherings, he added that the NYPD needs more resources to effectively manage these situations.
“We’ve been trying to get police to confiscate equipment,” Holden stated. “Local precincts are overwhelmed; we need a special task force.” The NYPD did not respond to requests for comment.
Councillor Vicki Palladino, part of Holden’s Common Sense Caucus, emphasized the need for new regulations to keep illegal sound systems off the streets. “We’re proposing laws that would make it illegal for vehicles with non-factory sound systems to operate in New York,” she said.
Residents and officials alike are hopeful that the NYPD’s new quality-of-life department, which launched during Labor Day weekend, will help address the disruptive speaker clashes.
“We really hope to see improvements in the quality of life for residents in Queens and the Bronx,” Kane said. “Right now, it’s just a constant headache.”
