Most likely, everyone in the town of Los Gatos is aware that gas powered leaf blowers are no longer legal to use here. What some may not know is that the “grace period” ended January 1st, 2014.
I don’t know about your neighborhood, but in mine, the gas blowers are continuing like nothing has changed.
We spoke with our gardeners when the law passed. There was some grumbling and a comment that the consumer would pay more in the end, but it was understood. But guess what – nothing changed: nothing, nada, zilch, zip, niente.
This week I spoke about this with our gardener, whom we have hired to mow and blow for years. He shrugged it off, saying that he worked in all kinds of places with leaf blower ordinances, and they were NEVER enforced. And besides, the electric ones don’t do a good job. Oh, and he doesn’t own an electric one to boot.
I let him know that it does matter to me and that I don’t want gas blowers used. He said he’d use a rake and buy an electric blower.
My sense is that this is what it’s going to take – not a law so much as home owners saying that we care about the noise and the pollution.
That was last week. We will see what this week brings. Meanwhile, my neighbors’ gardeners are continuing to make a racket. I’m hoping that they will step up and talk to their gardeners, too.
FAQs on the Los Gatos Leaf Blower Ordinance:
http://www.losgatosca.gov/2059/Leaf-Blower-Ordinance
