I am a resident deeply concerned about the environmental and health impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers. Operating one for just an hour emits as much smog-forming pollution as driving from Denver to Los Angeles. These machines not only contribute to air pollution but also spread carcinogens, create noise pollution, erode soil, harm plants and disrupt our local ecosystem.

Major cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington DC have already recognized these hazards and banned their use. Even closer to home in California - Palo Alto, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Gatos, Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco have implemented similar bans. Yet here we are in Fremont still allowing these harmful devices to be used freely.

The American Lung Association has stated that gas-powered garden equipment is a significant source of hazardous pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The California Air Resources Board says that total smog-forming emissions from Small off-road engines (SORE) already exceed emissions from light-duty passenger cars in California. Buying Tesla doesn't help much if we let this happen.

We need to take action now! Let's follow the example set by other progressive cities around us. We urge our city leaders of Fremont to phaseout the use of gas-powered leaf blowers immediately.

Please sign this petition if you care about clean air quality in your community.

UPDATE: Day1 Summary

I posted the petition link on https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=304161014 and got great inputs and suggestions. Some highlights copied below.

Q:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blXy5f7YfZU
A:   Yes, statewide 'sales' ban is coming next year. Other cities I listed here have a city ordinance to ban its usage.

Q: People should use what they already have/own….No!!! I will not participate!!!
A: great point. Yes, eWaste is bad. In reality it's going to be more like a phase-out or incentive program for subsiding the switch

Q:  How do u expect them to clean, you will complain, now and will complain when ur streets are littered and leaves everywhere. Maybe banning complaining is better option
A:   https://lifehacker.com/home/best-alternatives-to-gas-powered-leaf-blowers Things are getting better& cheaper now 

Q: So ur one probably saying going to electric cars is good, maybe u didn't live in Bay area when we have rolling blackouts, the more we go to electric more we put on grid. Its like kids now days rely on computers for everything. Ur saying rely on electricity for everything. Make pge richer lol
A: I know what you're saying and actually that's the first thing coming to my mind. But, at the same time, I want to be optimistic because Fremont is one of the greenest cities in the US and we have some amazing clean energy / battery startups. With much demand, they can come up with better solutions

Q: nah relying on electricity is not the future, as it will not be enough, also, those electric blowers do not work as well
A: ok, you may be right. My concern is more about work inequality. I mean, whenever I say Hi to the workers, they idle the engine, smile and wait until I walk by. But how about them? Inhaling that much exhaust for HOURS...

Q: and please tell us how landscapers who have maintenance contracts are going to do this? Can they plug into and use your electricity? Or maybe they can fire up the generators needed to keep the batteries charged on chargers …
A: Given a choice, I guess most homeowners would rather support the switch. I, by myself, will be happy to provide our outlet to our HOA contractor.

Q: Think City of Fremont will reimburse me if I switch from gasoline leaf blower to a battery one? Or I have to pretty much eat the cost?
A: >Think City of Fremont will reimburse me if I switch >> That is my plan

Q: Can we let markets do this job for us? When there are reliable cost effective battery options out there, people will automatically switch. Maybe give some rebates for buying electric blowers, not ban the gas ones. Just like electric cars. After all no one wakes up in the morning wishing to inhale gas fumes and get deafened by the sound of the motor.
A: Yeah, whatever works! I wish we had something like this in our city.. https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4544/Electric-Leaf-Blower-Rebate