Opera tunes being used to deter homeless at 7-Eleven

Aug. 25—The tunes of the late-Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti and other opera singers are being blared from speakers outside at a 7-Eleven gas station on the West Side of Manchester to deter loitering.

Some neighbors have noticed a decrease in the unwanted guests, but others say it's to the detriment of a good night's sleep. The new classical music soundtrack plays 24/7, they say.

Earlier this month, a Facebook post sparked interest in the tactics being used at the 85 S. Main St. store.

"Dear 7-11, while I appreciate your tactics of LOUD opera music outside your doors to keep the loiters away, some of us also cannot sleep when we can hear it LOUDLY all the way down the street. If you could so kindly turn it down, it would be much appreciated," one woman wrote on a Facebook community page.

Some think the music could be in violation of the city's noise ordinance which has a limit of 60 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

A manager at the store declined to comment Sunday afternoon.

The sounds of "Ave Maria" played as Kevin Hetticher stopped to get a drink while on a bicycle ride. He wanted to check out the music for himself after reading about it on Facebook. He recognizes efforts need to be taken to address loitering and other homeless issues in the neighborhood.

"I don't know how best to do that," he said. "I am not in law enforcement. I am not on the City Council."

The tactic has been deployed at 7-Eleven gas stations across the country prompting a Reddit thread, "How to get 7 Eleven to stop blaring Opera into our neighborhood?" Other stores in cities like Austin, Texas, Colorado Springs and Modesto, California, have also used the strategy.

Sarah Sharp, who worked at the store for three years before transferring to a store in Londonderry, said something needed to be done.

"The music is to keep away the unwanted people. Drug addicts in the area. Anyone in the area who thinks 7-Eleven is a hangout when it's not," Sharp said. "It has been working since the day (the store manager) put it in."

She admits the music is annoying, but better than the sounds of people loitering and possibly getting into fights.

"It does get over-stimulating at times, but honestly it works," Sharp said. "It works."

Breanna Ayer-Senser, who lives in a high-rise building across Clinton Street, can hear the music at all hours of the day.

"It can be a little loud," she said. "It is almost louder at night."

She also heard it was to "scare off the homeless" who tend to gather in front of the store. She said the music started about a month ago.

"I think it's getting better," she said of the loitering "It is definitely still an issue."

Ward 10 Alderman Bill Barry said he hasn't received any phone calls or emails to complain about the music. He said he works with the police and fire departments in regards to the homeless population.

He encouraged anyone with complaints about the music to reach out to him.

"I can reach out to police on their behalf or they can contact police themselves," Barry said.

One woman who was on a porch nearby Sunday afternoon said she doesn't mind the music.

"When I get home I come out and listen to it," she said. "It calms me down."