BROOKLINELEAVES.ORG

LEAF BLOWER UPDATE:

Brookline has leaf blower regulations that were developed by the 2019 Moderator’s Committee and voted through by Town Meeting. The committee met for nine months, researched the issue and developed one of the most restrictive leaf blower by-laws in the country. Complaints to the police and the designated Leaf Blower enforcement officer are way down. The Town is quieter in the summer and there is now a system to report and enforce. During the week of June 6th, Town meeting is once again faced with voting on a warrant article (#27) that among other things, will restrict the use of gas blowers for all contractors including the Town of Brookline by the year 2026. This will be devastating to local, small businesses. Raking leaves is not an option for companies that serve multiple properties in one day. It is not acceptable to ask workers to rake nine hour days-if you can even find workers to do this job! Battery operated leaf blowers are fine for summer to clear light debris. We need to use heavier gas powered blowers to clear the leaves in the spring and fall.

*This bill is discriminatory. It targets minority workers and small businesses. We will be forced to lay off workers early since we will no longer be able to do clean ups. The Town and properties over one are acre exempt. Only the wealthy will be able to use gas powered leafblowers.

*Landscape companies will pull out of Brookline leaving many residents unable to clear their properties. This is especially discriminatory towards the elderly or handicapped who can no longer clean up their own properties.

*Landscape companies who leave Brookline will also no longer remove snow in the winter.

*Cost of battery operated professional grade leaf blowers is around $60,000 to outfit three crews with blowers and batteries. This is a crushing amount for a small business. They also don’t work for professional use. We are all looking forward to the day when the batteries are long lasting and machines are powerful, but that’s not realistically happening in the next four years.

*If Residents find companies to rake, their maintenance bills will skyrocket.

*There is a lack of employable people who want to work in this industry. Small business are already trying to survive and this is just one more hit.

*All Leafblowers nationwide emit less than 0.038% (source EPA) of US co2 emissions. Why is the focus on this machine? To learn more, click on the “Just The Facts” tab to view the powerpoint developed by the Moderator’s Committee On Leafblowers for the Town of Brookline.

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