The prominent headline on Monday was: “City bans gas leaf blowers,” concerning action by the Burlingame City Council. One might presume that those bold leaders had taken a revolutionary stand. ... Until one reads the article. We find it was actually “Me too!” climate-change grandstanding, enacting now-unnecessary legislation that is complicated, unfairly punitive and costly.
I hate leaf blowers, especially gas-powered ones, and would be delighted to see them replaced by brooms and lawn rakes, and a consciousness that “lawn litter” is actually good for the soil. They are far too loud, dust-o-genic, poisonous/stinky and noisy, with downstream disposal problems and an insignificant carbon footprint (apparently the main concern, nonetheless). Mayor Brownrigg rightly mentioned poison, noise and nonspecific environmental issues as justification for the move.
There is no need for this legislation. As pointed out, the state already banned sale of these nuisances, so they will soon disappear, anyway. Furthermore, electrics are more than four times more costly, significantly heavier, and finicky. Costs directly reflect the carbon footprint required to make the item, and will be passed on, and the $1,900 increment would buy lots of fuel, even with inflationary gas add-ons. The rules fine homeowners, not contractors, for using gas-powered units. Are diners fined for getting sick when served rotten food? What about battery disposal and aching backs of workers strapped with yet more weight? … Yet, oft-strange rules about usage timing won’t be touched. Rather than fix those quirks, new quirks were added. San Mateo, don’t follow the misleader!
(1) comment
Thanks for your letter, Mr. Crompton. The adage still holds true, “Go woke, go broke.” The “little” people go broke while the so-called adults in the room go woke. And for what? Absolutely nothing. Let’s hope voters remember the treachery of these so-called adults in the near and far future.
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