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Allowing the use of battery powered leaf blowers in our city is one big step backwards by in c a§ 1qn air pollution, and it is a huge step in the wrong direction. It can be said that smoking one pack of cigarettes a day rather than two packs is a step in the right direction. But not smoking at all is the best direction. This analogy aptly reflects the backwards action that this City Council is taking by now considering the use of battery powered leaf blowers. Not allowing any leaf blowers was and is still the best direction.
Everyone on this Council has lauded and applauded the efforts put forth by Mayor Brand to lessen the effects of pollution in all the South Bay. To suddenly abandon so quickly the positive direction that Mayor Brand was leading us towards, such as his support for the ban on all motorized leaf blowers, is to me, inexplicably hypocritical.
Allowing any resident to arbitrarily propel toxic pollutants on the ground into the air and onto adjacent properties adversely affecting the health and well- being of their neighbor is both unfair and unjust. Residents wanting to pick up yard debris have options to do so, a neighbor not wanting to experience this kind of polluting assault has only this one option, shut the doors, shut the windows, and stay inside. This is not a respectful nor accommodating option for anyone.
Amending the ban will no doubt cause a furthering of disharmony between neighbors. Those who value clean air will harbor resentment towards neighbors who insist on a spotless, leaf free yard, which lasts in appearance for only a short period of time.
If economics is the most pressing concern in allowing battery powered leaf blowers to be used by city workers, why not raise the city' s utility tax one- quarter of 1% to pay for the extra labor required to maintain city facilities thus eliminating the need to use battery powered leaf blowers. The option for cleaning up areas where leaves and debris collect such as the Grant Avenue bulb outs can be easily accomplished with battery powered leaf vacuums as well.
Speaking recently with individuals in the Public Works Department and Parks Department of both Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, it was confirmed that neither city uses battery powered leaf blowers, they both use rakes and brooms, with Hermosa Beach employing the use of battery powered leaf vacuums as well.
With the present ban, the benefits to the many justifiably outweigh the perceived benefits to the few. By voting in favor of amending the present ban, you will be telling every resident in Redondo Beach that you value questionable bottom- line costs more than their health and quality of life.
Douglas Sieker District 5 Re: Leaf Blowers 19 March 2024 Ii. I i - Fv ' may
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Battery powered leaf blowers with their velocity of 100 to 250 mph, whip up hazardous particles and contaminants from the ground, sending them long distances, and the tiniest particles, once airborne, can stay aloft for hours. As you already know, particulate matter is deleterious to everyone' s health and leaves all of us more susceptible to acquiring or exacerbating serious health conditions such as heart and lung diseases. To knowingly condone and be accepting of all the subsequent harmful and destructive consequences brought about by using any leaf blower is, in my opinion, unconscionable.
Giving legal cover that will allow one resident to disrupt and worsen the rightful quality of life, wellbeing and the invaluable health of a neighboring resident is wrong, disrespectful, inconsiderate, and reprehensible. When there are numerous and viable options such as rakes, brooms and battery powered leaf vacuums, there is no logical reason for making an allowance for the use of battery powered leaf blowers.
Allowing the use of battery powered leaf blowers while still prohibiting the gas- powered ones will make the challenges of enforcement difficult and perplexing. For instance, some residents and gardeners, when the battery on their leaf blower wears down, will bring out their gas- powered one and swear if questioned that they were instead using their battery powered leaf blower.
City workers, gardeners and residents can all effectively and efficiently use new and improved battery powered leaf vacuums as well as rakes and brooms. If the focus was more aimed at picking up only larger debris, doing so would prove to be faster than repeatedly and needlessly blowing large areas of landscaping, all the while stirring up huge amounts of toxic dust, carcinogens, and pollutants.
Amending the ban allowing battery powered leaf blowers will be telling the residents of Redondo Beach that this Council is more concerned with the unjustifiable convenience for some rather than the right to a healthier quality of life for all.
Let it be known that the residents, the Public Works Departments, and contractors in the beautiful cities of Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach have steadfastly upheld and complied with their ordinances that ban the use of all motorized leaf blowers due to their highly commendable and ongoing pursuit for an enhanced quality of life for everyone.
Elaine Sieker District 5 Re: Leaf Blower Ban 19 March 2024