Cambridge Looking To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers — But Landscapers Say They’ll Feel The Pain

Cambridge officials are moving toward banning gas-powered leaf blowers, which they hope will help persuade Massachusetts state legislators to do the same thing statewide.

"We often hear, especially when it comes to climate action, that we as a city need to follow state action so we don't preempt their work or risk harming local businesses. And I'm sure state actors hear that about the federal level as well. In truth, we know it works both ways," Cambridge city councilor Patricia Nolan said earlier this week. "We follow state action and we also spur state action as leaders in climate justice and worker health implications. We have a responsibility to not only follow state action quickly and effectively, but also put pressure on the state to take action, and that's I believe part of what we'll be doing here."