Ban one you must ban them all
To the editor:
Another monumental issue has befallen Sanibel; noise pollution, in the form of leafblowers. It seems some people are pushing for a ban on them. Granted, even though it may take only 15 minutes to clean your property with a leafblower, they are noisy. But if you ban the use of them, why stop there? If noise is what you want to eliminate on Sanibel, you’ve got a lot to choose from. Lawnmowers are noisy, and most homes need the grass mowed, even before the leafblower is used. Just think of the cost to hire someone with a pushmower, and then having to rake the debris! Good luck with that in the summer months.
The city of Sanibel uses riding powermowers all along our roads close to homes, including mine, but it has to be done, and the noise lasts longer than a leafblower.
Powerwashers are noisy and some homes need an outside cleaning before painting. Do you want to wash your home? If so, you’re a better man than I am.
Do we stop emergency vehicles from using their siren, which is a constant noise during season? Sometimes I think I still live in New York City with all the sirens blaring through the day on the island. Noise is a fact of life, and it proves we are alive to hear it, which I’m grateful for. Which might not be the case for those hoping to hear the sirens.
And what about the birds! Especially fish crows and ospreys! Would you like to ban those, too? Please be real, people, and accept the noise for what it is.
There will come a time for us all when all the noise will be eliminated, and that is when we move to that subdivision calledTHE CEMETERY! But, alas, even in death we have to put up with some noise.
Bob Sabatino
Sanibel