Breaking news! Multnomah County’s 5 Commissioners approved a resolution on 12/16/21 expressing support for:

[A]ccelerating the county’s transition from the use of gas-powered leaf blowers at county facilities, and for convening a work group with the City of Portland to consider an equitable community-wide phase-out strategy for gas powered leaf blowers.

 

Many thanks to everyone – near and far – who responded to our Call to Action. The County received over 160 written testimonies (!) and heard 7 live public comments.  Onward to the shift to safer, healthier tools!

 

Gas-powered leaf blowers are hazardous!

EXTREME NOISE – their high-decibel, low-frequency noise disrupts communities and contributes to hearing loss and hypertension.

HEALTH RISKS – their toxic emissions and fine particulates increase risks of cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and dementia. 

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS – their toxic waste and smog-forming emissions harm ecosystems and contribute to the climate crisis.

Please join us to eliminate gas-powered leaf blowers and make our neighborhoods quieter and healthier.  Find out more below. 

 

 

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The Aggressive Ways of the Casual Leaf Blower

“Clean up,” they say, filling the air

with dirt and exhaust. As if

you can more quickly rake in cash

by blowing it into the street.

With all the force — and foresight —

of a tornado. Such logic

flies in everyone’s face, yet passes

for rational self-interest. How

so many ignore it, I don’t know.

It screams out to be heard

from blocks away, even with

the windows closed. And the stereo on.

Verse thanks to Jennifer Martenson