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Why I support a ban on leaf blowers in Sonoma

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Sonoma Valley Sun

leaf blower

My firstborn son came into this world with a number of birth defects. After 46 trips to the OR for major and minor operations, he still struggles with compromised lungs. After his open-heart surgery, we learned we needed to move from our Colorado home to live at sea level in order for his lungs to fully develop. My family chose to start our lives over in beautiful Sonoma.

We love it here but I am dismayed by the overuse of leaf blowers in our bucolic town. I have recently been educated on the health hazards of these machines. I used to think they were just noisy and annoying. What I have learned is far more alarming. These 2-stroke engines, run at speeds of 150-200 MPH, not only damage hearing and spew huge amounts of emissions, they also kick up mold spores, pollen, rat poison, animal feces, fertilizer, and pesticides. This particulate matter, which can stay in the air for days, gets embedded in our lungs and affects all of us, not only those with compromised lungs.

My other two children suffer from allergies, made worse by harmful particulate matter blown into the air by high-powered leaf blowers. The City of Sonoma uses Monsanto’s Roundup (a known carcinogen) along our bike paths. Roundup adheres to soil and only dissipates with rain. With this serious drought now in its 4th year, we have not received nearly enough rainfall to dissipate the harmful chemicals sprayed along our bike paths. Sonoma’s children play games in the ball fields along these paths. When leaf blowers are used to clear them, our children are forced to breathe many dangerous and carcinogenic chemicals, plus allergens, fungi and mold.

I educated my gardener about the dangers and asked him to refrain from using a leaf blower on my property and that of my neighbors. Now he uses a broom and rake, which gives us healthier air to breathe, and the peace and quiet we need to work from home.

I encourage all residents of Sonoma to educate themselves and their gardeners about the health hazards of leaf blowers. Ask your landscaper to use a rake and broom, like we all used to do! Feel free to join us Monday, July 6th to address the City Council. Please sign our online petition at https://www.change.org/p/sonoma-city-council-ban-leaf-blowers-in-the-city-of-sonoma and help Sonoma join 21 other California cities that have banned these noisy and harmful nuisances. You can also follow us on Facebook at Sonoma Neighbors Against Leaf Blowers. Together, we can make a difference.

My family members and I thank you. Warmly,

Mara Lee Ebert, Sonoma




Sonoma Sun | Sonoma, CA