Comment Log Display

Dear Chair Randolph and Members of the Board,

I live in Merced in the Central Valley where asthma and other
respiratory health problems  are double what they are elsewhere in
the state. Almost every family has one or more members who are
impacted. Which is not to say other areas of California are not
contesting with similar impacts of poor air quality as well.  But
you can see why my concern is so great.    
 
Please support the adoption of new regulations that will phase out
the sale of highly-polluting gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn
equipment in California beginning in 2024.
 
The use of gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers in particular
causes numerous health problems, and greatly contributes to
California's notoriously poor air quality. California continues to
fail to meet national air quality standards, which means that
millions of Californians like myself breathe unhealthy air
everyday.
 
CARB's public health benefit analysis determined that these new
regulations, if adopted, will result in: 
$8.8 billion in health insurance benefits through 2043
892 premature deaths avoided
438 fewer emergency room visits for asthma 
311 fewer hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular
issues
The California Legislature also appropriated $30 million for your
agency to distribute to small proprietor landscapers to help them
begin to acquire and transition to new, zero emission electric and
manual equipment. This is in addition to subsidies and buy back
programs already led by air districts throughout the state.

This regulation will improve air quality, help to slow the climate
crisis, improve human health, and save lives.

Please approve and amend the SORE regulations per the staff
recommendation.

Thank you for considering this long overdue measure to improve our
air quality.
     -Roderick Webster