'They woke me up with a loud hissing noise this morning, and it wasn't even 7:30 yet! I've lived behind the facility for 5 yeans now, and this morning was something rather new. I have learned to live with the trucks in and out all day, but this loud intermittent hissing sound was just too much. nice work on the website!' - Resident on Beethoven St
Learn more about: attempted bribery, neurotoxins in the air, empirical evidence of illegal noise, zoning, Binghamton's Noise Control Ordinance, community member quotes, reasonable solutions, Section 239 Review, who we've contacted, clean neighbor?, green neighbor?, community accreditation message to the future.
Key PeopleWho is behind the Bates Troy noise? Brian Kradjian, Ara Kradjian, Tom Singe and Randy Widrick.
The facts of the situation are beyond dispute. When Bates Troy asked for permission to expand their industrial dry cleaning plant into a high-density residential area they made various commitments to the City of Binghamton to secure approval. The first commitment they made was that they would respect the laws of the City of Binghamton. And the second commitment they made was that they would only operate their tunnel washer from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and that they would only receive deliveries during those hours as well.
But then, within days of completing their expansion, Bates Troy Healthcare Linens decided to violate these two commitments. They immediately began operating at 3:30 AM and on Saturdays. And they did so with full knowledge that their noise levels were terrible. After tremendous community pressure, Bates Troy agreed to enter into mediation with the City of Binghamton and residents who lived around their dry cleaning plant. At this mediation, Bates Troy promised to only operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and only on Saturdays in an emergency. They also promised to abide by all the laws of Binghamton.
On September 30, 2008, Randy Jay Widrick from Bates Troy sent an email to the Mayor of Binghamton entitled "Adjustment of Hours". Randy Widrick wrote: "With our recent expansion, our target goal for starting the new tunnel washer in our heathcare laundry was 6 am. Effective yesterday, September 29th, we were able to achieve that goal. This 6 am start-up, Monday - Friday, benefits our customers, our employees and our neighbors."
All of Bates Troy's promises have proven to be lies. They now almost daily operate before 6 a.m. And, according to their own sound measurements, they are violating the law every single day because their tunnel washer produces illegal noise.
On January 31, 2009, the City of Binghamton issued a notice of violation to Bates Troy. Bates Troy's response? They operated on Saturday and then began their machine at 4:15 a.m. the next weekday. Bates Troy demonstrates by their actions their utter disregard for our community and for the laws of Binghamton.
If you are a resident of Binghamton we urge you to boycott Bates Troy and Tuxedo Junction. It is easy to do because there are so many alternatives.
If you are a client of Bates Troy's Healthcare Linens plant then we urge you to use a different company. We know there are several Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council certified laundries that services this area. Find an altrernative to Bates Troy and help your neighbors enjoy their homes.
90 second background summary on the Bates Troy issue (click here if video doesn't appear):
Bates Troy attempts bribery to stop this campaign (click here if video doesn't appear):