Noise was the other bugaboo in Pasadena with the tiny minority of Gold Line opponents. They tried to get the shi-shi neighborhoods all upset about noise pollution. The City scheduled three noise tests, with horns at the grade crossings. The opponents complained that no one was notified adequately about the first two noise tests, so on the third test, lots of notices were sent out to tell people when the test would take place. But, at the last minute the third noise test was cancelled, because the equipment wasn't available. What day do you suppose the most noise complaints were made? You guessed it, most people complained about the noise on the day there was no test.

It taught a few of us a lesson about the ability of small groups to manufacture a crisis to manipulate public opinion in the total absence of fact.