Comments on: L.A.’s 64 Worst, Round 1: Leaf blowers vs. Fry’s

By: 64 Worst: Lightning Round, Day 1 of 4 | Los Angeles Metblogs

64 Worst: Lightning Round, Day 1 of 4 | Los Angeles Metblogs — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:35:59 +0000

[...] Gas-powered leaf blowers: …the smoke-belching, earsplitting curse and the single leading cause of Saturday-morning headaches (after alcohol)… Beverly Hills outlawed the nasty little gas-burning machines, Why can’t the rest of greater L.A.? -Mack Reed [...]

By: 64 Worst: Smog vs. the homeless | Los Angeles Metblogs

64 Worst: Smog vs. the homeless | Los Angeles Metblogs — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:44:48 +0000

[...] we do like owning vintage V8s, gas-powered leaf-blowers and one of the largest, most diesel-spewing ports on the planet [...]

By: elsongs

elsongs — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:32:04 +0000

The coolest job in the world: The Pink Marker Person at Fry’s.

By: arras

arras — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:41:56 +0000

A neighbor (Mt Washington) used a gardener with the gas powered leaf blower..I went on line and got all the info…made flyers…left one for the neighbor, and posted some on phone poles, etc. Gave one to the worker himself who told me he didn’t have to obey the law. I reported it to the phone number (recording)..don’t know how much they follow up, but I left another message for the neighbor with the info that the violation had been reported. Now the gardener uses the electric kind…
Given the cost of fuel, and the fact that an electric one could draw electricity from the owner’s outlet, I think using the electric ones would be a win/win for the gardener, ultimately. They’re still obnoxious…all the dust creates problems with allegies or breathing problems…Fry’s—easy to say no…I shop online with TigerDirect…no complaints…no hassles

By: Dave Bullock / eecue

Dave Bullock / eecue — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:18:04 +0000

I just want to say Fry’s is awesome. Where else can you buy ham radio gear, oscilloscopes and freeze dried ice cream all in the same store?

Just never ever ever ask anyone who works there any kind of technical question. Do your research first, come in and buy what you need and get out.

Oh the best part is when you’re leaving and they ask if they can check your bags, just say "No Thanks" and keep walking. It’s illegal for them to force you to stop and show your purchases / receipt.

By: Will Campbell

Will Campbell — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:12:04 +0000

I suppose one could blame the homeowners for allowing it, but ultimately the gardeners are the ones responsible for flagrantly disregarding the leaf blower law. Certainly they’re just trying to do the littlest amount of work the fastest way possible so they can cram more jobs in and make a little more money at the end. I can appreciate that. But I appreciate my peace and quiet even more and guard it at every opportunity. I guess I’m the bad guy for that but I have no problem wearing that hat.

Our gardeners come once every two weeks and we forbid them using gas-powered leaf blowers. On their off weeks I rake and sweep up the front yard and sidewalk and I consistently finish the job with my manually powered implements before our neighbors’ crew does with their electric-powered blower.

By: David Markland

David Markland — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:46:35 +0000

Poor gardeners? C’mon. They choose to take the job.
Next thing you know you’ll be arguing that meter maids are just doing their jobs as well… well, actually, they’ll be coming up in a 64 Worst poll soon enough…

By: militantangeleno

militantangeleno — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:32:08 +0000

Don’t forget that Fry’s is actually a Northern Californian invention.

The Militant actually digs teh Fry’z. Now if only they had a store in the central Los Angeles area instead of just the transit-unfriendly suburbs (yes he knows there’s a Metrolink station across from the Burbank Store and the Canoga Park store is across from the terminus of the Orange Line). Fry’s in the Little Tokyo – Arts District area? Yes please.

By: lucindamichele

lucindamichele — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:40:13 +0000

I changed my mind about leaf blowers a long time ago. I read a financial analysis of the workflow for a gardener. They make so little money that they have to do many lawns every day in order to make anything that even comes close to what’s defined as official poverty status. Raking a lawn takes FOREVER. Blowing a lawn takes very little time, comparatively: they can do more lawns & bring in more money. They’re doing what they have to do. Either pay them by the hour and let them rake your lawn, or suck it up, you, miss "My bucolic Encino peace has been disrupted". And a gardener blows my lawn once a week in the a.m. I don’t complain. I understand.

By: Mack Reed

Mack Reed — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:05:22 +0000

chimatli – If I had to, sure. Work’s work.