Seattle Council OKs plan to ban gas-powered leaf blowers

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle City Council has voted to plan the phasing out of gasoline-powered leaf blowers for city departments and contractors by 2025 and businesses and residents by 2027, “or later, if necessary.” The Seattle Times reports the resolution asks city departments to develop plans and design a public-education strategy around the transition. The resolution asks city departments to conduct a racial equity analysis, gather input from landscaping companies, and consider financial incentives for those companies and low-income residents. Councilmember Alex Pedersen sponsored the resolution, citing noise, health and environmental concerns. Other cities, including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., have outlawed gas-powered leaf blowers.