Neighbors in the Hamptons are embroiled in a feud over a noisy rooster that has been causing disruption for months. The conflict began when Marc Auerbach, frustrated by the loud crowing of his neighbor Efrain Mayorga’s pet rooster, Brownie, lodged complaints with the town. Auerbach detailed the early morning disturbances caused by the rooster, which resulted in lost sleep for him and his family, as well as the loss of a rental tenant.
Despite Auerbach’s complaints, the town’s investigation resulted in a noise nuisance violation for the bird’s owner, but Brownie was not removed from the property. Mayorga’s daughter, Ana Nunez, accused Auerbach of starting the dispute because he wanted to Airbnb the home to host pool parties. She claimed that Auerbach had sent threatening letters and harassed her family, including providing fake legal documents to intimidate them.
The Mayorga family took action to address the issue by building a shed over the chicken coop to prevent the rooster from crowing. Auerbach attempted to resolve the situation by sending a polite letter and flowers, asking them to remove the rooster by May 2023. However, his neighbors failed to comply with the agreement, leading to further frustration for Auerbach, who claimed he had tried various methods to block out the noise, but to no avail.
Both parties have sought legal representation, with the Mayorgas aiming to have the noise nuisance citation, which could result in a $1,000 fine, dropped. The case is scheduled to go to trial in the town’s Justice Court of East Hampton at the end of April. Auerbach emphasized the impact of the rooster’s noise on his quality of life, expressing his strong feelings about the situation and the ongoing lack of resolution.
The conflict over the noisy rooster highlights the challenges of neighborly disputes and the lengths people will go to in order to address disturbances affecting their daily lives. The escalation of the feud, involving legal action and allegations of harassment, underscores the broader implications of noise disruptions and the difficulties in finding a resolution that satisfies both parties. As the neighborhood clash continues, the trial scheduled for the end of April will determine the outcome of this unusual dispute over a seemingly innocent farm animal causing chaos in a suburban setting.
