The chapter explores the history and impact of leaf blowers in American society with a focus on the conflicts and bans that arose in Southern California, particularly in Los Angeles. It discusses the arguments for and against the ban including noise pollution, air quality concerns, and the economic impact on gardeners, shedding light on the intense showdown at a city hearing where the City Council ultimately voted to ban gas-powered leaf blowers.
The leaf blower is one of the most hated objects in the modern world. They’re loud, they pollute, and… how important is a leafless lawn anyway? In a lot of towns and cities, the gas-powered leaf blower has been banned. In others, there are strict guidelines on where and when they can be used. In Los Angeles, California, the leaf blower has never gone quiet, but the war to ban them has been raging for decades.
The Los Angeles Leaf Blower Wars
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