LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Every nickel counts
Editor: The Friends of the Sebastopol Library would like to
thank Whole Foods, its staff and all of the customers who
participated in Whole Foods Nickels for Non-profits program which
ran from September through January. Each time a customer brought in
his or her own reusable grocery bag, Whole Foods offered a 5-cent
credit or the opportunity to donate a nickel to a non-profit. We
were the non-profit and the nickels went to the Sebastopol Library
Remodel Fund. We received a check for $1,740.45. That means that
34,809 bags were brought in and the shoppers said, “Give the nickel
to the Library.”
Please continue to “BYOB … bring your own bags” to Whole Foods
and support the next non-profit that will benefit from the Nickels
for Non-profits program and help the environment at the same time.
Every nickel counts.
Sue Fujita
Sebastopol
Ban all blowers
Editor: I urge the City Council to completely ban all leaf
blowers. To avoid the noisy main thoroughfares while walking all
around the city, I use the quieter side streets, but in the last
few years there has been an enormous increase in the use of
excruciatingly noisy leaf blowers in all streets by those doing
yard work. At times I have had to put my fingers in my ears to
alleviate some of the pain. The blowers move leaves into the
street. That does nothing for the earth; it would be much better if
the leaves were raked, put in a bag and composted or given to
someone to compost. The leaf blowers not only pollute the air and
add carbon to the atmosphere, but they cause noise pollution.
Those wanting to keep these noisy machines, whom I call the
“egoistic elite,” have already lost part of their hearing range
because of the noise pollution around them. They can stand next to
these blowers without a problem. Also, senior citizens do not fall
because of leaves on the sidewalk; they usually fall in their homes
or apartments due to brittle bones.
Leonard Baron
Sebastopol
Letter to City Council
Editor: The following letter was sent to Sebastopol City
Council:
Honorable Guy Wilson, Mayor, Honorable Council Members Gurney,
Kyes, Slayter and Shaffer,
I was shocked and dismayed by the Council’s vote to ban leaf
blowers at a previous City Council meeting.
It appears that this vote was taken without considerable
research and without knowledge of the effect that this new code
would have on the Sebastopol community. Other communities — Los
Angeles, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and others — have tried to ban leaf
blowers, only to find that the cost of implementation was
overwhelming, both in personnel and community angst. I am mildly
curious as to why the Sebastopol City Council did not research the
implementation issues in other communities prior to voting for the
ban at a previous meeting?
At a time when our community members are fighting an economic
battle to financially stay “alive,” it is completely imprudent to
add more costs in dollars and labor to the running of a household.
And, it is foolish to think that it is only our wealthy community
members that find the need to use leaf blowers. Most yards in
Sebastopol are heavily impacted by trees, bushes and other yard
waste, much of which can only economically be removed by leaf
blowers. In addition, our roofs and gutters are impacted by organic
debris which can only effectively and safely be blown off by leaf
blowers.
I understand that some people have health concerns over the dust
generated by the leaf blowers. In response, I wonder: If we don’t
clean up the leaves and debris with leaf blowers, isn’t the wind
going to generate even more allergens every time the wind picks up?
Can we also ban the wind?
This is a time when our City Council needs to be actively
engaged in creative pursuits that will encourage and support the
growth of our existing businesses as well as fostering new
businesses. It is shocking that our Council allowed our wonderful
Sonoma County Repertory Theater to disappear without any active
support from the Council to save the theater. At the same time, we
are seeing other businesses closing their doors, or just hanging on
by a proverbial “thread.” This seems to be happening when the
priority of the City Council is to ban leaf blowers. Hmmm. This
does not make sense to me.
In my humble opinion, the highest and best use of the precious
time of our City Council members is not to spend time on irritating
City codes such as the leaf blower ban, but rather to get to work
and figure out how to make this community more enticing to existing
and new businesses. That is one of the ways that revenue is
generated for the City coffers, and this approach will make this
City Council stand out among all of its peers in Sonoma County.
I don’t like leaf blower noise any more than the next person,
but this problem can be solved by simply scheduling the time when
leaf blowers are allowed — such as weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. That solves that
problem. Now, let’s get on the track of building a business
friendly City Council. This I could get behind and wholeheartedly
support with my time and resources.
Thank you for listening. I strongly encourage that the City
Council allow leaf blowers, with regulated time of usage.
Mark Matthews
Sebastopol
Ban everything
Editor: I see the city of Sebastopol has considered banning leaf
blowers. The main reason, from what I understand, is that they make
noise and they spew pollen and dirt into the air. When one lives in
a city, there are inherent factors, both good and bad, that come
along with the deal, such as noise.
So, in keeping with this theme of not wanting noise, pollen and
dirt in the city limits, I propose we ban the following:
1) Nuclear stuff. No wait; we are already a nuclear free
zone.
2) Garbage trucks. They make all kinds of noise in the morning
and they certainly spew stuff into the air.
3) Fire trucks and ambulances. They make all kinds of noise and
stir up the dust roaring through town. They can be more quiet while
they are saving your life or house.
4) Do I need to say anymore than, barking dogs.
5) Screaming kids, even if they are having fun.
6) Let’s stop the Kiwanis from having their July 4th
celebration. Making all kinds of noise by lighting off firecrackers
celebrating our nation’s birth. How dare they.
7) Finally, don’t get me started on the damn chirping birds in
the morning. How dare they wake me up. Is there such a thing as
non-chirping birds? If so, let’s do a fundraiser and get some.
Now, being serious for a moment. Please folks, let’s be a little
more tolerant and neighborly and accept the fact that we live in a
city. We can’t ban everything that irritates us. Who wants a police
state?
Mark Fink
Sebastopol
Not far enough
Editor: I fully support the proposed leaf blower ban in our city
limits — the noise they make is atrocious. I further propose the
following items be banned:
1) Automobiles – they are noisy and polluting.
2) Schools – those kids make too much noise.
3) Churches – bells drive me batty.
4) Music – it would be ok if my neighbors played only blues and
country.
5) Fire department – I can’t stand sirens.
6) Our annual Parade – those dachshunds bark too much.
I’m hoping our city council can adapt these ideas – by the way,
I believe Palm Drive Hospital should be closed as they are
violating the no-nuclear policy.
Tom Kendrick
Sebastopol
Pay attention
Editor: For 23 years I have lived on Calder Hill, probably one
of the few remaining mixed Oak, Fir, and Redwood forests in the
city limits. This little forest provides shade in the summer,
leaves for composting in the fall, and most important, food and
habitat for many species including insects, squirrels and birds. At
any time of the year, these trees are blossoming, dropping leaves,
or raining acorns onto our roofs, decks, and sidewalks. I use a
small engine leaf blower; however, I am always aware of what time
it is, what day it is, and who is home in the neighborhood. I often
use a broom if it is early Saturday or Sunday morning, or weekend
afternoons when I know my neighbors are enjoying their backyards.
We are all friends and treat one another with respect and
consideration.
During the work-week, there are numerous kinds of noises coming
from roto-rooters, lawn mowers, carpet cleaners, power-washers and
painters, USP delivery trucks, garbage trucks, street cleaners … we
seem to have learned to accept that maintaining our homes and
streets is noisy business. We can’t ban them all.
If the proposed leaf blower ban idea dies, as it should, at
least it will have heightened our awareness of what is considerate
and polite behavior in a neighborhood. If we each maintain
awareness of how any kind of noise we make might affect our
neighbors, we will have succeeded in eliminating the need for a
city council to make unnecessary rules governing how we live.
Janet Anderson
Sebastopol
Blower discussion May 17
Editor: Following the March 1 Sebastopol City Council meeting, a
number of residents contacted the Council to express their concerns
over a possible ban or restrictions on leaf blowers. These concerns
were again voiced during the public comments segment of the Council
meeting on March 15. In addition, a number of residents have
complained about not having received reasonable notice and an
opportunity to be heard by the Council on the subject. A number of
residents have also contacted the Council to express their support
for a ban or restrictions on leaf blowers. There is clearly strong
interest in this matter in the community, with a wide range of
viewpoints. The legislative direction given to staff by the Council
at the March 1 meeting (i.e., to prepare a draft ordinance that if
approved would, with some exceptions, broadly restrict or ban leaf
blowers) does not reflect all the viewpoints of the community.
Under these circumstances, I believe the community will be better
served by having further discussion and deliberation by the
Council, with further public input, before any proposed new leaf
blower ordinance is drafted or voted on. I have therefore placed on
the May 17 City Council agenda an appropriate action item regarding
leaf blower regulation. I hope this will help resolve due process
concerns, provide an opportunity for all interested parties to be
heard on all sides of the issue, and allow for meaningful and
respectful community conversation to take place in the weeks
preceding the May 17 meeting, with possible areas of consensus and
compromise identified along the way.
Guy Wilson
Mayor, City of Sebastopol