First published in the Sept. 29 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
Thank you to Mayor Keith Eich and Councilman Michael Davitt for your votes last night against the proposed leaf blower ordinance. As stated, there are still significant details that need to be considered and addressed.
California already has clean air measures in place to ban gas-powered gardening tools in the near future. If our city wants to go over and above the state on this issue, we should do that in a synchronized manner. It would cause confusion to have separate rules for them here ahead of time.
Gardeners who have clients in La Cañada have other clients in neighboring cities. Some would undoubtedly opt to drop their La Canada clients if we make it more difficult to work here than elsewhere. If they are forced to purchase expensive equipment to work here, they would have to pass that expense on to us. Are we all ready to pay more?
Some residents were hoping that the ordinance would pass to cut down noise pollution. While I appreciate peace and quiet in our neighborhood as much as anyone, I believe this expectation is misguided. Gas-powered leaf blowers are about 80 to 90 decibels. Electric models are only a bit quieter at around 65 to 70. The proposal did not address all the other noise from lawnmowers, weed wackers, chain saws or wood chippers.
Jason Ware
La Cañada Flintridg
