GAS BLOWERS

 

 

 

THE DEBATE AND FAQS ABOUT GAS BLOWERS

 

Are Gas blowers really illegal? Yes.

 

2/13/1998 Los Angeles Municipal Code 112.4 no gas powered blower shall be used within 500 feet of a residence at anytime.  Both the user of such a blower as well as the individual, who contracted for the services of the user, if any, shall be subject to the requirements of and penalty provisions for this ordinance. 

 

 

 

I thought that law was struck down or something like that?

 

No.

 

 

 

Are electric blowers illegal?

 

No.

 

 

 

Are not electric blowers just as bad and thus what have we really gained then?

 

A very good point. All blowers have the same inherent problem in that they kick up particulate matter and they create noise pollution. Gas blowers have the added problem of smoky inefficient engines (lots of carbon) and very loud noise pollution. The only law on the books today is for gas blowers. We would love to see all blower use significantly reduced. However, because of the need for cord, electric blowers are less portable and thus tend to be used much less. 

 

 

 

Is this not pitching the gardener, who already makes very little against the property owners who hire them?  Frankly this feels a little elitist?

 

The Eastside and its residents are thoughtful and fair people. That is why we all choose to live here. We have been out all over the GGPNC area and we have heard all kinds of sentiments and solutions to this question. Here they are.

 

 

 

The gardener says that they are paid so little the way it is, that they could not make a living if they were forced to “plug in an electric” or even worse to rake and broom.

 

They are right. Property owners need to either pay them a little bit extra or reduce their standards of outdoor cleanliness.

 

 

 

Do all the leaves and debris really need to be off the lawn and footpaths EVERY week?

 

No. The property owner could agree to ask the gardener to sweep and broom every other week instead.

 

 

 

I just feel bad for the gardeners. What a time to be burdening them with this.

 

 

 

We get that but remember that the use of blowers currently is illegal in 20 major California cities, including Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, Lomita, Santa Monica, Malibu, Beverly Hills, Claremont, South Pasadena and Santa Barbara. Gardeners have adjusted and will adjust here also. Lots of gardeners, closer to the west side, who also work in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills already, obey the law. Further, remember that 1. Gardeners are signing on to this effort every day and are helping with outreach and 2. Gardeners are the ones that are the most at risk by their use. 

 

 

 

My goodness, do we as a society have to be involved in EVERY aspect of people’s lives? It seems that everything is being regulated to the point where we have no freedoms? If a gardener wants to inhale fumes for 20 years, then is that not his or her business? If my neighbor wants to breathe all of this stuff in, then is that not his or her business?

 

We as a society will have to pay for all the increased health care costs as a result of a gardener using his or her gas blower during his career. A neighbor using a gas blower affects you and your air quality. One’s freedom to do as one pleases of course is a key part of living in this country. You simply ought to do so at the expense of others.   

 

 

 

If we do not blow weekly, our property is mess.

 

If your landscape design is such that you need to keep cleaning up after it, well you might want to consider changing plants or relocate the “shedding” plants.

 

 

 

The silver lining here is……?

 

New water restrictions are forcing us to think about native plants. Carefully chosen native plants need little or no water, little or no care and very little “blowing” as they just don’t make a mess the way non native plants do.   

 

 

 

Are you making any progress in this campaign?

 

Yes we are. People are switching back to a combo of rake and broom and electric blower every day. We at the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council Green Committee are out there every day to get this job done.  We live and work here and we have children and pets.

 

 

 

I am uncomfortable with calling the city and reporting my neighbor?

 

So are we. We get that and we appreciate that. The point of this outreach is to educate and encourage, not to “tell on” people. East-siders are just not like that.

 

Educate your neighbor and then if they or their gardener still violate the law, you can call 1-800-996-CITY. If you are still not comfortable with that, call Tomas O’Grady at 323 644 1629 and we will make a good faith effort to educate further. When all else has failed, we then will not hesitate to document and report and follow up to ensure the violator is fined and gets the message as loud and as clear as his or her Gas blower. Again, our intent is to fix this problem WITHOUT FINES OR LEGAL ACTION. 

 

 

 

The most powerful message of all is to lead by example

 

Talk to whoever takes care of your garden about the gas blower problem and switch today. It is the right thing to do and it is the law.