When we first moved into our apartment in downtown Redmond three years ago, it was a quiet haven. During the past six months, however, the noises of downtown Redmond have left us sleep-deprived and robbed of any sense of peace and quiet we once enjoyed.

On any given day, and most painfully through the night, we are haunted by low-pitched rumbling and vibration. The sounds of falling rain have been replaced with what sounds like diesel trucks idling outside our window.

Some nights are filled with the sounds of leaf-blowers and the rumble of street sweepers; other nights are filled with rumblings from what seems to be distant construction, industrial noise, road or utility work.

We have contacted the city. We have contacted the police. We have contacted local businesses. We have driven around at all hours trying to identify the noises so they can be stopped. We have gotten nowhere.

As I sit and write this letter after another restless night, rumblings and low vibrations continue to fill my room. With construction sites, businesses and roadwork all around me, I fear these noises will never stop. White-noise machines, ear plugs, sleeping pills and ear phones can’t compete with the low-pitched rumble. I feel completely helpless in restoring my sense of peace and well-being while living in downtown Redmond.

Shannon Sorensen, Redmond