Leaf Blower Fight Roils Greenwich, Conn., Home to World’s Most Perfect Lawns - WSJ

Svetlana Wasserman, a 53-year-old former management consultant, moved from a nearby town in Westchester County, N.Y., for a home with a bigger yard in 2019. “One of the first things that jumped out at me when I moved here, despite living in the back country and 5-acre estates, is how friggin’ noisy it is,” she said. 

Even among spacious lots with few neighbors, Wasserman said she can’t escape the leaf blowers. She puts on earbuds and plays music when she needs a reprieve, she said.

“Sometimes I play Radiohead,” said Wasserman, also of Quiet Yards Greenwich. “Usually it’s some pretty angry music.”

Sophie Koven, another member, said one pivotal moment for her occurred last year during her son’s eighth-grade graduation, further solidifying her opposition to the tools. Midway through the outdoor ceremony, the blare of a gas-powered leaf blower coming from the adjacent property began drowning out the student speaker, who could barely be heard above the buzz.

 “One person operating one leaf blower can just ruin an event for 800 people, and no one can do anything about it,” said Koven, 49, who works as a mediator.

via www.wsj.com