Gas-powered leaf blowers are much heavier polluters, in noise and in emissions, than battery-powered leaf blowers. Washington, DC has already decided to ban the gas-powered versions for these reasons, and I believe Arlington County, VA would only benefit from implementing this ban as well.

Benefits:

• Less noise. Even when a gas-powered leaf blower is being used around people who aren't sleeping, the noise can make being in one's own house unpleasant. Almost goes without saying that walking outside near a gas-powered leaf blower is much worse.
• Less pollution. As an already eco-conscious county, only allowing battery-powered leaf blowers seems a straightforward step.

Further reading on the DC decision:

• https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2019/03/washington-dc-enacts-phase-out-gas-powered-leafblowers/585124/
• https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Council-Considers-Banning-Gas-Powered-Leaf-Blowers-501928591.html
• Fun fact: Because this is a DC decision, not a federal one, federal grounds may still use gas-powered leaf blowers.

This petition is intended to be an unscientific poll for Arlington County residents prior to bringing the issue to the county board's attention.