Dallas’ gas mower ban plan is bad local government | Opinion
A yard worker cleared leaves from the street in front of an East Dallas property last week. While some homeowners are switching to electric-powered lawn equipment, commercial operations mostly prefer the efficiency of gas-powered two-cycle engines.It’s tempting to see the proposal to outlaw gas-powered lawn equipment in Dallas as the machinations of a progressive block of city staff and council members seeking to “California our Texas.
First, and most important, it removes a simple freedom — to care for one’s property as one sees fit. Yes, property rights are subject to regulation for the common good, especially when they conflict with the safety or health of other citizens. But, as annoying as they are, no one is being directly injured by leaf blowers.
Proponents of the ban will say it’s an environmental justice issue since, quoting the staff report, “Most lawn crews are unprotected and work full time at the source of emissions and noise. ... A large portion of landscape workers are Hispanic.” The city’s environmental justice message comes fully charged with a patronizing big-brother-knows-best tone. If you ask actual landscapers, they will tell you that their tools are their livelihood, and please don’t mess with them.
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