Opinion: Stop using leaf blowers
Beth McKinley
La Jolla
Today I am listening to leaf blowers in stereo — one in front of my home and one behind it. Ahhhhh the lovely incessant drone, like a twin-engine aircraft buzzing my windows. And then there are the clouds of dust being churned into the air, and the gasoline fumes coughing out the back. What do these machines accomplish, other than noise and air pollution? Well, they do a great job of moving leaves from one house to the next, only to be moved back by another leaf blower.
Leaf blowers are not illegal in San Diego, as they are in a growing number of cities that have recognized the idiocy of a contraption whose sole purpose is to kick dust and leaves into the air while emitting air and noise pollution. However, we do not need to wait until San Diego (allegedly a forward-thinking green city) comes to its senses. We don’t need to be regulated into doing what is right. Here is an easy step: Tell your gardener not to use one. There is a lot of competition in gardeners; let’s use a free market society to correct what is a bane to many people’s existence. If your gardener refuses, get a new gardener. You will have done something to help the environment, and your neighbors will thank you!
Related posts:
- Opinion: Bird Rock roundabouts just aren’t working
- OPINION: Pet poo can destroy paradise
- OPINION: City needs to talk about risks of water plan
- OPINION: Local merchants need to step up
- OPINION: ‘Clean News’ message way off base
Short URL: http://www.lajollalight.com/?p=36006
Posted by 
The Light should change the name of the Opinion section to "Boooohoooo!!!"
People that allow their gardeners to use leaf blowers are selfish. They have no catlytic converters and create so much pollution that everything a person does all year — recycling, driving efficient car, etc. — is undone when their gardener uses a leafblower. ("Gardener" is a loose term.)
Leafblowers did not come from nowhere. They are part of a tradition. http://www.lightlybraisedturnip.com/leafblowers-p...