Wicked Local Newton posted these photos with this explanation.
A resident sent in photos taken earlier this week of the campus of Newton South High School, clippings from recently mowed grass either still in place or having been blown to the street or sidewalk. The city’s updated leaf blower law, which went into effect earlier this year, prohibits the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in the summer. Electric or battery-powered blowers are allowed, but apparently the city’s contractor did not use them to clean the debris.
Umm…ISn’t the point of the article/pictures that they aren’t actually using ANY leafblower. That isn’t a violation, that’s just not a big deal…A big ol’ nothingburger. What’s the big deal about grass clippings not being blown into a hedge?
Now if you had the city landscaper out there with a big ol’ gas hog of a leafblower, laughing manically, then I’d call that news.
What we got here is a failure of reading comprehension. Seems to me that the law is working just fine. Some will use electric, some will use battery, some with use none. No leaf blower is fine with me.
Fig, yes. The headline here is off.
But… we do think the scene at South is a mess.
We have, however, received other photos (not published) that show other city contractors in a different location using gas-powered blowers this summer, which would violate the updated ordinance.
@Andy: This is an instance where we probably should change the headline but I’m not sure what it should say because, now that I think about it, I’m not sure what point you are trying to make.
Maybe it is just me, but I’ve never understood the need for perfect manicured lawns and walkways.
It appears to me the pictures are trying to prove a point. City contractors ARE the ones maintaining the high schools and since blowers are frowned upon now because people can’t seem to grasp why they’re actually needed, its quite obvious that over time, things will go quickly down hill from here, especially once fall arrives… more debris build up, more wet weather, more mess, more people slipping….Get it?! Can’t imagine there won’t be an outcry once parents start to realize that their tax dollars aren’t being used to the fullest!
@Greg
I think the point would be that the city should make sure its vendors have battery or electric blowers during the summer… South does seem a bit messy as presented in the photos. (In addition, some people have a pretty severe allergy to grass clippings.)
I have pictures of them using 77db gas powered leaf blowers to clean Albermarle for the 4th of July celebration. They are doing it all
Over the place. The city should be treated like the private contractors are.
Amanda
Yes, that is the situation I referred to. City Hall has been notified.
This ordinance is a joke! (Thankfully) There have been several instances this and every week on the street I live on where contractors use gas leaf blowers. Just this morning a little after 7 (mind you not 8:30), I noticed there was a contractor cleaning along the fence/street on Washington Street in West Newton using a leaf blower. No buddy cares!
Are you sure it was a gas powered leaf blower?
Greg – Not only was it a Gas Blower but it was a 77 DB red max blower and it was being used by the City Contractor to clean up Albermarle a few days prior to the 4th of July Festivities. The City Councilors were sent the Photos. Funny how none of the Councilors are commenting on this. The same vendor in April was using the 77 DB blowers to clean up City Hall prior to Marathon Monday.
Maybe the Councilors are trying to figure out why they cannot get the City to comply or maybe realizing that the work cannot be done for the same price with the inferior tools. Maybe that is why NSHS looks uncleaned. But I guess my concern would be – We are paying the City Vendors to clean our parks, schools etc and then as NSHS shows they are NOT doing the job they are being paid with our tax dollars to do.
Whatever did we do before there were leaf blowers?
Leave it for the cows and goats.
No. I grew up in the landscape/gardening business when we used simple fan rakes and brooms. They don’t pollute, are quiet, easy to use, and even good exercise. Green Newton lists “eco-friendly landscapers” who get the job done fine without leaf blowers. (https://www.greennewton.org/updated-list-of-eco-friendly-landscapers/)