Leaf blowers generate high frequency noise and particulate matter that threaten the quality of life in Sonoma and the health of its citizens.

The noise generated by a single leaf blower exceeds the City's own noise ordinance of 70 decibels. The two-cylinder engines that drive leaf blowers are not regulated, and, as a result, the engines are crude, cheap, and inefficient. They are designed to be air-cooled, and engines release 100% of their tailgate emissions, which include hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, directly into the environment. Since they also burn fuel very inefficiently, a leaf blower running for one hour emits as many hydrocarbons into the atmosphere as a car driven at 55 mph for 110 miles! Two-cycle gas motorcycles and other vehicles have been banned from our roads for decades. Why make an exception for leaf blowers?

The high speed air blasted from a leaf blower destroys topsoil by desiccating roots, removing mulch, and killing vital soil-dwelling organisms. At the same time, clouds of dirt and dust that contain mold and fungal spores, pollen, animal feces, and molecules of chemical herbicides and fertilizers are propelled into the air. Particulate matter (PM) can take hours and even days to settle. Particulates and unfiltered emissions are dangerous to breathe and are associated with respiratory and other ailments.

The use of leaf blowers not only threatens our health, but for many people who work from home, including mothers and caregivers, it hinders our ability to earn a living. Often the homeowners who hire landscapers are away during the day and are unaware of the impact they have on surrounding neighbors. There are currently successful bans on leaf blowers in more than 21 cities in California. Will Sonoma follow their lead?

We can do better by our families, friends, neighbors and visitors in the City of Sonoma.