Comment Log Display

Dear Chair Randolph and Members of the Board, 
 
Thank you for all you do.  It must not be easy to oversee matters
of air quality and have to balance competing interests. I hope the
decision to phase out gas-powered lawn equipment is a relatively
easy one to make: less air and noise pollution = healthier people.

As a teacher in a California public school, I 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. It makes sense both on a very personal level and for the
health and well-being of everyone.  

When the gardeners use their lawn-equipment during class, it's hard
for me to project my voice over the din. It makes it harder for the
kids to concentrate. On weekends, when I am looking forward to a
well-deserved nap, the gardeners next door power up their machinery
and rob me of the rest I need. Most importantly, by phasing out
gas-powered equipment, you will be giving my students hope,
tangible proof that the state is doing all it can to address the
looming climate emergency. Indeed, I was stunned and dismayed when
a student told me the other day I was the only person he knew who
was taking any steps to address climate change!  
 
Beyond how this issue impacts me and my students directly, 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 breathe unhealthy air everyday.  That also means more
cases of asthma and missed school days. 
 
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, and give some needed
relief to educators who are already working so hard.

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

Thank you,

Isabelle Teraoka