I am a senior citizen, and I have a problem that many of us in Massachusetts deal with year after year. Every fall, my neighbor's landscaper arrives and sweeps through their yard, blasting leaves in all directions with a powerful blower. Despite their repeated "accidents," they claim it's unintentional when leaves end up under my fences, invading my yard and causing me additional work. I continually find myself cleaning not only my leaves, but my neighbor's as well. How much more must our backs endure in this battle with errant foliage?

Now, I own and use a blower/vac. It provides an easy solution to the problem, picking up the leaves before they have a chance to become interlopers. If I, a senior, can utilize such a tool, why can't professional landscapers do the same?

This shouldn't just be an individual measure; it should be a statewide standard. I'm calling on Massachusetts to require all residential landscapers to use a vacuum, not a blower when they operate near property lines. This will ensure that each property is maintained appropriately, without the unnecessary transfer of leaves to adjacent yards.

Other states have already implemented policies regarding noise pollution and airborne dust from leaf blowers, acknowledging their impact on the quality of life for residents (American Green, 2019). It's high time we consider the negative effects of these machines not just on our environment, but on the well-being and peace of our senior citizens.

Let's act now to hold our landscapers to this standard and ensure that they value the respect for boundaries and the fair treatment of all Massachusetts residents. Sign this petition to help us put an end to the 'unintentional spillage' of leaves and to protect our seniors from undue physical strain. Let's advocate for the use of blower/vacuum units by all landscapers in Massachusetts.