[Mpls] Blowers Unite!

[Jim Bernstein]

Although I am inclined to not support a measure prohibiting leaf
blowers, I must take exception to the reason stated here - that
government cannot or should not regulate conduct on private property.

Minneapolis has a host of ordinances that restrict or prohibit (or
require) certain activities on "private property".  

Without defending each and every one of them, ordinances restricting or
prohibiting the owner or occupant from certain kinds of activities are
necessary for health, safety, or to maintain some sense of order and
civility in an urban environment and courts have recognized that
necessity. The same can be said for ordinances requiring certain
activities (i.e. shoveling snow on public access sidewalks, house
numbers posted, railings on steps).

Banning or restricting leaf blowers or at least certain kinds of leaf
blowers may or may not be good public policy and some List Members have
weighed in with their reasons for supporting or opposing the proposed
ordinances. It cannot however, be argued that the City does not have the
authority to regulate their use on "private property".  

Jim Bernstein
Fulton

-----Original Message-----
From: mpls-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:mpls-bounces at mnforum.org] On
Behalf Of Victoria Heller
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 6:42 AM
To: Mpls Forum
Subject: [Mpls] Blowers Unite!


Whether it's leaves, smoke, hot air, or anything else -- do not give up
your
RIGHT TO BLOW, at least on private property.

Without thinking about consequences, Minneapolis is gaining momentum as
it
slides down that slippery slope towards tyranny.

If government can "regulate" conduct on private property, what's to keep
it
out of your bedroom?  Based on my own fading memories, bedrooms are far
riskier than bars.  Bedroom conduct has become a major health issue,
generating incredible public cost.

....and blowing leaves for a few minutes each week, one or two months
each
year, is hardly worth regulating.  This sort of government interference
is
precisely what earns Minneapolis its cartoon character reputation.
[Residents who find themselves annoyed by occasional leaf blowing should
buy
some Toro stock and move to Little Falls.]

....and for those who completely missed American history in school, here
are
a few comments on the subject from our predecessors:

"There is no freedom on earth or in any star for those who deny freedom
to
others." -- Elbert Hubbard(1856-1915)

"But when no risk is taken there is no freedom.  It is thus that, in an
industrial society, the plethora of laws made for our personal safety
convert the land into a nursery, and policemen hired to protect us
become
self-serving busybodies."  -- Alan Watts (1915-1973)

"All I ask is equal freedom.  When it is denied, as it always is, I take
it
anyhow." -- H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)

Vicky Heller
North Oaks and Cedar-Riverside

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