Breathe Easy Sacramento

Sacramento was recently given a rating of "F" by the American Lung Association for our air quality. One of the constant annoyances which directly contributes to poor air quality is the use of gasoline and electric 'Leaf Blowers'. Gasoline Leaf blowers use a combustion engine which creates ozone pollution and according to California Air Resources Board Division Chief Michael Benjamin, by the year 2020 these and other small gas engines will create more ozone pollution than all of the passenger cars in California.

Moving to electric leaf blowers will decrease the ozone pollution but it still creates air quality issues. Rather than cleaning an area leaf blowers simply move the mess and kick up dust, dirt, and other irritants which negatively impact the lives and health of those who live or work in the Midtown and Downtown areas. Often the mess is simply blown into our streets and ends up blocking storm drains. The use of such devices forces citizens to have to cross the street to avoid being covered in debris, it forces drivers to roll up their windows to avoid having their car and lungs filled with airborne irritants, it increases how often we wash our cars, and it forces residents to have to run AC rather than opening a window because of the mess created by these devices.