Letters

Last December, I had a small procedure on my heart. I was supposed to rest for four days. But I didn’t get a moment’s rest — because leaf blowers were blaring all day, and I mean all day, for all four days, just as they do every day, even if there is a single leaf on a walkway or driveway or patio, or even a lawn that no one uses.

This is madness — mass mental illness, both cause and effect.

I have a friend whose teenage son has been begging her for years to leave the country to get away from the noise of leaf blowers. He is absolutely tortured by the noise, and he is threatening to flip out or even run away. I have another friend with two babies who cry at the sound of a leaf blower starting up nearby, and they scream until it’s over.

But, of course, it’s never really over.

I’m starting a petition to finally end this menace once and for all. If our government won’t listen to reason, to science, to articles and complaints published in this newspaper, then a petition it will be. Those interested in signing can reach out to me on Facebook.

Hugh Grant has said that “anyone who uses a leaf blower, and anyone that hires anyone else to use a leaf blower, should have it rectally inserted.” Cate Blanchett has said, “It is all that is wrong with the human race. They drive me nuts, I hate them so much. … Whatever happened to the broom? Leaf blowers need to be eradicated from the face of the Earth. And our own David Bouchier says: “The noise is enormous, and we can almost always hear the roar and screech of a landscaping operation somewhere nearby.”

A few weeks ago, some friends were having a dinner party. They were all set up outdoors when their guests arrived. And just as the food was served, four leaf blowers started next door — leaves, dust and smoke everywhere. My friends pleaded with the leaf blowers to stop, but they would not — they were hired by the homeowner (who wasn’t home and couldn’t be reached) to blow. The entire party had to move inside. But they still couldn’t hear each other speak. Party ruined.

Two others I know were hospitalized after being injured by leaf blowers: The sheer force of that engine threw them back, knocking one off a porch and breaking her arm. The other was hit in the head, breaking her eye orbit and causing a brain bleed.

Please, all of you reading this and experiencing this: Please reach out and let’s end this life- and peace-destroying menace once and for all.

Suzanne P. Ruggles

Westhampton