Should City Totally Ban Leaf Blowers?

This month, the Los Angeles City Council is expected to take a final vote on a ban of gas-powered leaf blowers within 500 feet of residences. The council tentatively approved the ban in May.

However, while most people involved in the issue admit that gas-powered blowers can be annoyingly loud, many say there is a middle ground short of a complete ban.

Leaf blowers became popular when residents were prohibited from using garden hoses to wash away dirt during drought years. Those who support the ban say that blowers are no longer essential.

Should leaf blowers be banned in Los Angeles residential areas?

Richard Close, Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. president:

“The answer is yes. . . . We’ve received a lot of complaints and interest in reducing the amount of unnecessary and disturbing noise in the neighborhoods. I think [noise] is a problem, whether it’s aircraft noise, barking dogs, loud parties. . . . These leaf blowers are not necessary, and banning them will bring some peace.”

Bob Scott, past president of the United Chambers of Commerce:

“I think you need to have an alternative. . . . Maybe they need some sort of decibel-rating system. . . . I find [leaf blowers] annoying . . . [but] I don’t find them intolerable. But if you have too many of them going at the same time it’s a nuisance. . . . Maybe electrical blowers might work.”

Brian Yamasaki, gardener and licensed contractor, president of the Hollywood chapter of the Southern California Gardeners Federation:

“I’m hoping that the city would be willing to listen to alternatives. So far it is a mention of blowers being a nuisance, but then the solution is only to ban it. . . . Alternatives mean regulation. That is to say, specifically, getting the blowers licensed or certified by the city. . . . In other words, with the regulation guidelines, we can develop an education program [on limiting the noise level]. . . . I am strongly looking forward to a citywide relationship between the gardeners and other homeowners.”

Councilman Hal Bernson, who supports the ban, in an official statement: “My vote is not cast in concrete. . . . What I’m really concerned with is how much dust and dirt is being blown around. The blowers are really nothing more than dirt movers. That is the problem. We have to find another way to move the dirt.”

Roy Imazu, Sun Valley gardener and landscape contractor:

Electrical blowers are “not a realistic alternative. If they’re complaining about the amount of dust from a gas-powered motor, then you’re just changing the type of power. The electric power blowers make noise also. But even with a gas-powered motor it won’t make much noise if you don’t use it at full power. One company . . . is coming out with a 64-decibel blower. The industry is working on it and making the blower much more quiet than they have been. . . . The substitution of the rake is a misconception. We never gave up the rake. . . . The other alternative is the broom. You could do it with a broom, but you’re talking about more time. Time is money.”

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