The Brief

The wail of emergency sirens. The roar of garbage trucks. The hum of gridlocked freeway traffic.

Living in a noisy neighborhood can be annoying. It can also be harmful to your health.

Chronic street noise — from sirens, traffic and construction — is more than just a nuisance, it’s a growing health hazard, health experts say. In recent years, research has shown that consistent exposure to noise may be linked to a host of conditions, including cardiovascular disease and stroke.

A study released in May in the journal Environmental Health found that long-term exposure to traffic noise has been linked to increased mortality rates in people with diabetes.

Los Angeles County — with its vast network of freeways and its notorious traffic — is one of the loudest in the U.S., according to the Department of Transportation. Areas close to major airports or highways are most impacted, according to the department’s interactive noise map.

Many of these areas also tend to have more lower-income residents, and more people of color, than other parts of the county.

“Loud noise produces a stress response, even you don’t notice it and it’s sort of this background hum,” said Charlie Roscoe, an environmental health researcher at Harvard University. “Over time when your body is flooded with stress hormones, that can lead to inflammation and, ultimately, disease.”

Further research shows a link between exposure to traffic noise over time and obesity.

“Noise pollution basically has the ability to negatively affect all of the mechanisms to do with your cardiometabolic health,” Roscoe said.

Who is most at risk? 

The Department of Transportation map shows, in hues of dark blue, purple and red, that many of the noisiest places to live in L.A. County are clustered around airports, business and shopping hubs, and areas surrounded or transected by freeways, including downtown L.A., Inglewood and Glendale.

The health effects may be worse for people of color and those in lower income brackets who are more likely to live in heavy traffic areas, some researchers say.

“Especially in America, rail lines, highways and airports often border neighborhoods that tend to be where the most underserved communities live,” Roscoe said, nodding to the racist history of redlining and highway placement across many U.S. cities.

“People who are already probably experiencing some social risk factors and stressors on their health are the ones who are both experiencing the most noise pollution and most vulnerable to the negative health effects,” she added.

The same inequities apply to children. According to a 2019 study of more than 94,000 U.S. schools, those with a higher percentage of Black, Latino or Asian/Pacific Islander students, as well as students who qualified for free or reduced lunches, were significantly more exposed to street noise.

Noise exposure for children has been linked to lower reading scores, hyperactivity and heightened stress hormones.

How loud is too loud? 

Highway traffic noise ranges from about 70 to 80 decibels at a distance of 50 feet, according to the Department of Transportation. A typical emergency siren measures roughly 124 decibels — louder than a jet takeoff.

Noise levels over 70 decibels can provoke a stress response in many people, spiking cortisol, adrenaline and other stress hormones, according to the National Institutes of Health. The agency also warns that two years of regular exposure to 90 dBs can produce hearing loss.

The World Health Organization found that average road traffic noise above 53 dB is associated with adverse health effects.

In L.A. County, neighborhoods around LAX and the Burbank airport experience average noise levels above 80 dBs, along with Commerce and much of Inglewood, according to the noise map.

A couple of weeks after Lily Niewald moved into her one-bedroom apartment in the Mid-City neighborhood of Los Angeles — two blocks from a fire station — she realized there would be a problem: the sound of sirens thundering from firetrucks and emergency vehicles roaring past her ground floor, street-facing apartment countless times a day.

“You not only hear the blaring sound, but you can also feel the vibration,” said Niewald, a 26-year-old student and barista who chose Mid-City for its relative affordability. “It’s stressful and upsetting, but it’s also distracting because I constantly have to stop whatever I’m doing.”

Nighttime noise is more problematic, experts say. The World Health Organization recommends less than 40dB as an annual average of nighttime noise outside the bedroom to prevent sleep disturbances and other health issues.

Niewald, said the constant sound of sirens outside her bedroom window takes a toll on her sleep. She described being jolted awake night after night.

“Your body thinks that there’s some intense danger or something serious happening,” she said. “Even if I’m able to go back to sleep, I feel extra fatigued and have more brain fog the next day.”

Niewald grew up in Manhattan, where there’s plenty of street noise, but she said she now places greater importance on living somewhere quieter.

“Now even when driving I get a whole wave of anxiety throughout my body when a siren starts,” she said. “It sort of makes me hate cities. I definitely value quiet spaces now more than ever.”

Compounding effects of noise 

Traffic noise may be particularly harmful to those struggling with mental health conditions like post traumatic stress disorder, experts say.

“Loud noises especially in the night, you can imagine how that would be triggering for people with PTSD,” Roscoe said. “It's not that everyone is going to experience noise and develop a mental health issue, but if you already have that susceptibility the stress response has been shown to be even greater.”

Prior noise exposure may prime the body to overreact to sounds later, producing a compounding negative effect on the body, Roscoe said.

Studies show that emergency responders are 150% more likely to experience hearing loss over time than the average population, and roughly 26% of firefighters in the U.S. report suffering from tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.

But not all city noise is harmful.

Psychologist David Hindman, former president of the California Psychological Association, said noisiness can also point to a sense of togetherness and liveliness in a community that outweighs some of the negative effects. 

“It’s more complicated than just all noise is bad,” he said. “Often the nosiest areas also have elements of community and engagement that have been shown to be very important to mental and physical health.”

Urban areas are generally associated with higher depression risks than rural ones, many researchers say, but some studies have found higher rates of depression in sprawling suburbs versus more densely populated city centers. They cite more opportunities for social networking and interaction.

Hindman, who worked at a South Central LA health clinic for 15 years, said an abundance of street vendors, churches, holiday festivals and other community gatherings throughout the area created an overall sense of “aliveness.”

Fighting against urban noise 

Local officials try to curb noise in neighborhoods through a variety of tactics. Residents can report excessive noise caused by individuals, businesses and construction sites, by calling the local police department or other designated complaint line.

The county Department of Public Health noted that each jurisdiction is responsible for enforcing its own noise rules.

Workplaces are required to adhere to state noise regulations. For problems with excess noise at work, employees can make complaints to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA.

Highway sound walls are also part of local efforts to dampen the impact of traffic noise.

Last year, Atwater Village secured $2.5 million to build a “living sound wall” made of dead plant matter, which is said to be an effective way to block out noise.

“As someone who lived in a city with a highway running through it, I’ve always been aware of the noise pollution that comes from freeways in this city,” said state Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Glendale), who requested the funding from the state. “Folks that live near noise-generating situations have been very expressive to me throughout my tenure in public office."

Portantino authored a state bill, which became law in 2022, directing the California Highway Patrol to test noise-detecting cameras. The idea was that the technology would eventually allow for violators to be automatically ticketed, like a red light camera.

That's a sign of progress, Portantino said, but there is more to be done.

“California is having such a proliferation of freeways, general traffic and noise and impacts quality of life,” he said. “We need more sound barriers throughout the city, and also more parks and green spaces. Just an emphasis on a more tranquil life in L.A. County.”

Monsterpalooza, the annual movie-monster bash for horror fans, returns to the Pasadena Convention Center this weekend, starting Friday night and lasting through Sunday. Now in its 18th year, devotees can rub elbows with legendary beastie creators, browse hundreds of vendors who traffic in the weird and unsettling, and marvel at practical effects that’ll make your flesh creep.

Dozens of panels and presentations are scheduled, including a deep-dive into the 95th anniversary of the Dracula and Frankenstein movies by writer Julian David Stone.

Writer Julian David Stone gives a presentation at a past Monsterpalooza event.

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Perry Shields

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Courtesy Julian David Stone

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He said that the two classic movies have left a lasting impact.

“Dracula is a movie about supernatural horror..... and Frankenstein is about technological or man-made horror," he said. "You can just trace those two themes all the way forward to this past year with Sinners and Megan 2.0."

Richard Redlefsen's Armageddon Rat at the PPI Booth at a past Monsterpalooza.

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Stone first attended the convention in 2008, returning over the years as a fan, spectator and presenter.

“It’s just a terrific convention that celebrates all things horror,” Stone said. “There’s a lot of celebrities you can meet who were in these horror films and you can get pictures with them." He added that he’ll never forget when he met Carla Laemmle in 2010 — the last living cast member of the original 1931 Dracula.

Mike Mekash and Chris Nelson re-created Twisty the Clown on Dan Gilbert at the PPI Booth at a past Monsterpalooza.

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Steve Jennings

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Courtesy Visit Pasadena

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If you’re jonesing to be photographed with high-profile entertainers (expect a fee for many), this year's event has a line-up that includes musician Alice Cooper, actress Lin Shaye from the Insidious movie franchise and David Howard Thornton, who plays Art the Clown in the popular Terrifier movie series.

Cosplay and crazy costumes are encouraged, although a T-shirt celebrating a classic horror movie will also do. Just come ready to adore all things that gnaw and gash.

California’s primary election is Tuesday — and one race poses a challenging question to voters: Should a judge who’s accused of ethics violations by the state watchdog of judges get re-elected?

That’s the situation for Judge Robert Draper, who’s running to keep his seat in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. With about 15 years on the bench, Draper, 84, told LAist he hasn’t had disciplinary issues until now.

The California Commission on Judicial Performance, the state body that oversees judicial complaints, conducted an investigation into complaints and charged Draper with misconduct in office. The commission’s members, who are also the final decision-makers here, won’t make a determination on whether to discipline him until after the primary.

Here’s what you should know about what’s at stake and what could happen next.

A quick primer

Draper was appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2012. Superior Court judges have to run for reelection after they’ve been appointed. Draper is running for a third full term and is on the ballot for all L.A. County voters under Office No. 2, facing a challenge from deputy district attorney Tal Valbuena.

The commission has charged him with seven counts of violating judicial ethics. (The proceedings against him aren’t civil or criminal, but the commission uses similar terminology.) The commission is an 11-member group of judges, lawyers and others who are appointed by the governor, the Legislature and the California Supreme Court.

Draper is currently assigned to “chambers work only.” He and his attorney told LAist Draper's court-issued email account is restricted and his room does not have a computer or staff. He hasn’t heard a case since he returned in June 2023 from an involuntary leave that, according to commission records, was tied to the alleged ethics violations.

Among the allegations Draper is facing:

• Sending nude photos from a confidential child abuse case to colleagues via a court email address, according to commission records.
• Making irrelevant comments about race, including using the term “coal black,” during a case, and calling women in the courthouse “attractive” and “cute,” according to commission records.

A panel of independent “special masters” oversaw a six-day hearing earlier this month on the charges. The special masters are expected to issue a report on their findings within the next several weeks — but a decision on possible disciplinary action still rests with the commission.

According to the commission’s charge document, the allegations against Draper center on willful misconduct in office, failure to perform his duties and actions that affect the judicial office’s reputation. Draper has denied some of the claims and, in an interview with LAist, gave reasons for others.

The commission initially claimed that his behavior was evidence of an unnamed disability that interferes with his duties (which could get judges removed from the bench, if proven), but LAist confirmed that claim has been withdrawn.

Draper told LAist he is navigating health issues. Over the last few years, he’s been prescribed medication that made his Parkinson’s disease worse, he said, and had a detached retina and a rotator cuff injury. He added that he’s also coping with grief — his son died this year shortly before the hearing.

The seven counts Draper faces from the judicial ethics commission cover accusations dated 2022 and 2023. We’ll explore the main ones.

Comments on race

According to records from the judicial performance commission, Draper admitted to making statements that have been called “irrelevant” and “inappropriate” by other judges who reviewed his decisions on a 2023 case.

In February that year, the defense in a sexual harassment case Draper presided over was seeking a new trial. A jury had reached a verdict earlier, putting them on the hook for $10 million.

During a hearing, Draper brought up his personal views on interracial mixing and Black history, according to excerpts of the court transcripts. Draper told LAist these comments were intended to convince the two sides to “make a reasonable settlement.”

According to the transcripts, Draper used the terms “coal black” and “light brown” to describe Black skin tones. Draper defended his statements, telling LAist he viewed the comments as “almost like describing what color dress you’re wearing today.”

“Now, why did I say it? Race was not involved in the case, except that almost everybody was Black,” he said.

The commission said the comments at issue reflected “bias, prejudice, or harassment.” Draper’s written response to the charges said the dialogue had been taken “wholly out of context.” He told LAist he “ wasn’t talking about a bias for or against” and added he “probably won’t use the word ‘black’ ever” again if re-elected.

“Do I imagine I’ll continue to make comments about appearance? No,” he said. “I probably won’t.”

Women in the workplace

The same day of the 2023 hearing, Draper brought the all-women legal team into his chambers, according to records, where he made other comments that the commission alleges violated judicial ethics.

During the conversation, he told them a story about how male attorneys used to tell female secretaries “you better be able to f*** better than you can type.” Draper told LAist his comments have been misconstrued to sound like he was bragging about behavior at his last law firm. In fact, he said, he was referring to how other firms had “that attitude towards secretaries” when he started practicing law.

“I was so proud of the country [because] now it wouldn’t happen at all,” he said.

His comments and other issues ultimately led to the California Court of Appeals to overturn the verdict and order a new trial. Draper is also alleged to have touched a lawyer’s hair during proceedings in that case without reason, which he testified before the special masters hearing did not happen.

Other allegations cited by the commission involve multiple comments Draper has admitted to making about women in the courthouse in 2022 and 2023, according to records and LAist’s interview with him. The commission said these statements violated judicial ethics, which Draper disputes.

In one instance, Draper told his presiding judge she “looked cute” when she was mad, according to records. Another time he called a woman involved in a case before him “quite attractive” in a “global way.”

Draper told LAist the language he used was “not a come-on” and that he was “trying to make them feel good about themselves.”

“ I’m not going to walk around with my handkerchief in my mouth. I can just say, ‘Hey, you’re looking cute today,’ and people understand that,” he said. “But I’m not going to be walking around the court picking out the cute ones and telling them they’re cute.”

Leave, email and other issues

Draper has also been charged with allegedly not following his courthouse leadership’s directives.

When he was placed on involuntary leave in March 2023, according to the commission, Draper continued to do administrative work on cases despite receiving verbal and written directives to not access the courthouse and its resources.

Draper told LAist his supervisors were aware that his work was continuing because he was emailing them about it.

“They understood what I was doing, and they approved it by not speaking up,” he said.

Draper also testified that he wasn’t immediately told not to work while on leave. The commission said Draper wasn’t “candid” when he testified to that.

Judge Robert Draper on the first day of his hearing at the California Court of Appeal building in downtown Los Angeles on April 27.

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Cato Hernández

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LAist

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The commission also cited problematic emails Draper admitted to sending from his court email address, according to records and his testimony. This included allegations that Draper sent files including nude photos from a confidential court case to people not authorized to receive them under state code.

In June 2023, Draper sent an email to commission staff and other Superior Court judges with various materials, according to records. The attachments included details from a July 2017 confidential child abuse case.

The case involved child sexual abuse allegations with a public figure. Draper emailed nude photos from the case files of children bathing, according to records and his testimony.

One of the recipients of the email with nude photo attachments was retired Judge Lance Ito — best known for presiding over the O.J Simpson murder case in 1995. Ito testified to not being personally acquainted with Draper at the time and called the email “unusual.” Draper testified that the email blast was intended to show his legal contributions and that he is authorized under statute to consult with other judges. He said he copied Ito on the thread because of his leadership role in teaching judges.

Draper also emailed photos of himself “from behind without clothes” to the commission and other judges, according to records. He testified that this was to show his colleagues proof of an injury.

In another charge, the commission said Draper has not cooperated with its ethics inquiry that started in 2022 — such as repeatedly missing deadlines — and has been disrespectful to commission staff. Draper told LAist the commission’s investigation was more like an inquisition because they didn’t interview him before the hearing.

“ That is a big problem with the way the CJP operates,” he said. “They’re not there to help judges. They’re kinda trying to catch judges.”

An endorser speaks out

Kimberly Repecka is one of four judges who have endorsed Draper for re-election. She’s a prior public defender who’s known Draper for about 10 years and testified in his hearing last month.

She told LAist people have latched on to ageist narratives and that his character is being misrepresented. According to Repecka, it’s common for older judges to share “war stories.”

Repecka defended Draper’s reasoning for bringing up race in the sexual harassment case.

“I think most of us most of the time view it exactly how Judge Draper said he intended it: an attempt to connect on a more human level and remind ourselves that there’s a world bigger than the courtroom and case we’re in,” she said.

Repecka told LAist she wouldn’t use the same words he used to talk about skin color in the courtroom. She would be concerned it could cause discomfort.

“ As a white person, I would be pretty careful about how I address that if it seems relevant to the case itself,” she said.

Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School well-versed in judicial ethics, described it as a “real stretch” to view Draper’s comments on race and appearance as appropriate under any circumstances. Levenson said she can’t imagine other judges talking like this.

“There’s a lot of training for judges that has happened in the last decade about how you don’t talk about race unless it is a relevant issue,” she said, “and you especially don’t use some of the terms that Judge Draper was using in these hearings.”

Judges need to watch what they say in a courtroom because they need to not only be fair, but appear to be fair, Levenson said.

“He has the ethical obligation to be impartial and how he demonstrates that he’s being impartial is going to be evaluated by how he acts and what he says in the courtroom,” she said. “If you take his words at face value, there certainly would be reason to question how he’s treating people in that courtroom.”

Levenson has reviewed the hearing’s rough transcripts, the charges and Draper’s filed answer to them. She said it appears the commission “bent over backwards” to  give him a fair chance during their “robust” process.

What comes next 

The next step is for the special masters to put together a report of their conclusions for the commission members, which Draper will have a chance to respond to. The special masters won’t make recommendations about discipline.

That choice rests with the commission members. Remember, they brought these charges against Draper and will decide the outcome, likely in a couple of months. Among the options: The commission members could clear him, admonish or censure him, or remove him from office.

Loyola Marymount University is an underwriting sponsor of LAist. Like other funders, it has no influence on coverage.