Leaf Blowers, yet again.

We have a special Town Meeting scheduled for October 10th to once again consider the "leaf blower ban" passed by the last Town Meeting.

When this article came up at Town Meeting last, I voted against it.

I felt then, and still feel now, that a ban is too severe a method to deal with the problems that leaf blowers have caused.

Those problems are real.

We have seen examples of leaf blowers being used in ways that do infringe upon other peoples rights.

People have legitimate, if still hotly debated, concerns over pollution.

People have legitimate reasons for being opposed to the noise created when these devices are used in close proximity (often less than a few feet) from their home.

There is a legitimate issue involved in curbing the practice of leaf blower operators "sweeping" debris into public streets, in violation of (but largely unenforceable) town law.

However I do not feel - it has not been proven to me yet - that these real concerns prevent leaf blowers from being used responsibly, in a way that avoids these issues.

Because of this, I believe that a ban (or even a seasonal restriction) should not be the preferred method of dealing with these issues.

So what should we do? I approach this issue with the following thoughts:

If we simply repeal this ban as the opponents want, and not replace it with something that addresses the issues people have, we’ll be right back dealing with this issue again very soon.

Those that want to see the problems addressed are not going to give up and walk away, just because they lose this round.

If we leave this ban in place, the opponents are also not going to stop trying to repeal it.

We will have more articles introduced to overturn the bylaw, more special Town Meetings, and so on.

Town Meeting must pass something that deals with the real issues people do have, but tempers the approach so that we manage to curb the behavior that needs to be addressed, while permitting the responsible use of these machines.

Based on my discussions with supporters and opponents of the ban, I believe that the supporters are willing to accept a different approach, something other than a ban.

However, were we to repeal this "ban," I am not confident that opponents would accept any future restrictions.

We are talking about regulating the use of a machine, and there is an inherent interest among many, especially the landscape businesses, to avoid any regulation.

So long as this law is in place they are motivated to come to the table and work something out.

Once the current law is repealed, they lose that motivation.

It is my intent to not vote to repeal the bylaw, until such a solution is passed.

I hope to see a solution proposed at this special Town Meeting that addresses the issues people have, while eliminating anything like a ban.

If we don’t come up with a solution that adequately deals with the issues people have, we’ll be faced with this debate for the foreseeable future, until we do.

And if we repeal this ban without a solution, we’ll find it even more difficult to bring the necessary parties to the table, and put this issue behind us for good.

If you have thoughts or ideas on this, please share them with me. I am interested, and I want to see a solution - more importantly an end - to this predicament.

Restore trees to East Arlington

[This letter to the editor from Clarissa Rowe, former Board of Selectmen member, and current Town Meeting Member for Precinct 4 in East Arlington, appeared in last week's Advocate, and is worth repeating. Please share this information with others.]

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Restore trees to East Arlington

Last week’s microburst storm in East Arlington destroyed more than 100 shade trees there. There was extensive damage to other trees as well. Nearly every block is missing at least one major shade tree now. If you haven’t seen the damage, take a walk or a short drive down a couple of streets in East Arlington and you will see.

If people want to help replace those trees, please consider donating to the town of Arlington’s "Trees Please" fund. You can contribute at the treasurer’s office on the first floor of Town Hall (map), or at the DPW at 51 Grove St (map). The other place you can give money for new trees is at the Tree Committee’s booth at Town Day. These contributions will help the tree department and the Tree Committee plant more trees next spring, and could aid efforts at pruning the storm-damaged trees this fall.

If you are interesting in helping out with the spring planting effort, please go to www.arlingtontrees.org.

Clarissa Rowe, Herbert Road

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[Adding to Clarissa's letter, you can also donate to the "Trees Please" fund in the form of a check made payable to ‘Trees Please’ - Town of Arlington and mailed to:

Trees Please Fund, Department of Public Works
51 Grove Street
Arlington, MA 02476

See arlingtontrees.org/trees-please-program for more details]

State Rep Candidates Forum

Eric Helmuth (Town Meeting Member, Precinct 12) has passed along information regarding an upcoming candidates forum for State Representative:

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STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATES FORUM Thursday, July 26, 7-9 pm Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple Street (behind town hall).
Nearly one-quarter of Arlington is electing a new state representative to an open seat this fall -- and some of those affected may not even realize it.

This Thursday, July 26 at 7pm at the Arlington Senior Center (27 Maple Street), the three Democratic candidates vying for their party's nomination in the Sept. 6 primary will introduce themselves to voters and take questions from the audience. The primary election is open to both registered Democrats and unenrolled voters.

The forum will be moderated by our terrific State Senator, Ken Donnelly, who not only represents Arlington in the Senate but himself lives in this newly-redrawn House district.

WHAT PARTS OF ARLINGTON ARE IN THE NEW DISTRICT?
Due to redistricting taking effect with the November general election, three precincts in Arlington (8, 10 & 12) are leaving the district so ably represented by Sean Garballey to join Precincts 2 & 4 in East Arlington in representation by the 24th Middlesex district, which has been vacant since Will Brownsberger's election to the Senate. The district also includes all of Belmont and parts of North Cambridge.

Arlington precinct map:
www.arlingtonma.gov/public_documents/ArlingtonMA_Maps/PrecinctPollingMap.pdf

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Everyone in town has a stake in this election. With redistricting, Arlington's representation in the House goes from 3 to 2 members. It's vital that the new representative for the 24th Middlesex understands Arlington's unique needs. Even if you don't live in the district, you probably know people who do. Come on out Thursday evening and meet the candidates who want to represent your town's interests in the statehouse -- and please forward this email to your Arlington friends.

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?
Candidates for the Democratic nomination are Margaret Hegarty (www.margarethegarty.com), Bobby Reardon (www.bobbyreardon.com) and Dave Rogers (www.rogers4rep.com).

SPONSOR AND ADDITIONAL INFO
The forum is sponsored by the Arlington Democratic Town Committee. Visit www.ArlingtonDems.org for more information and the latest updates on the event.