Leaf blowers and the Peter Principle

Dear Editor,

In college I was introduced to the “Peter Principle,” where a person is promoted to their level of incompetence. So let’s apply this concept to leaf blowers, as they have been utilized to a state of “incompetence — not only are they noisy to the point of being deafening at times, they spew toxic fumes, stir up feces and ‘other stuff’ people use in their yards and businesses, and they remove the top soil that is so vital to a healthy garden.

If they are not a problem, then why do the operators wear noise blocking headphones and masks? So they can eliminate/reduce all the reasons stated above, of course.

I have been using the old rake and broom for as long as I’ve gardened.  It is my strong opinion that leaf blowers have reached their level of incompetence; they create more problems than solutions. I would hope the city council will do what it takes to eliminate their use (over use) in the city of Sonoma.

Paul Maysonave
Sonoma