This editorial originally appeared in Nancy on Norwalk

Last week, Nancy on Norwalk reported that members of Norwalk’s Ordinance Committee noted that they’ll be re-evaluating the city’s current leaf blower regulations before voting on an outright gas-powered leaf blower ban…again.

Friends of Animals thought the city already settled the question two years ago, when it approved a ban, even including an intentional phase out period to give home and business owners until 2027 to prepare for the switch.

Now, we wonder if this ordinance was doomed from the start. FoA learned that when the bill was originally passed, there was no budget set aside, and the section regarding a ban had a sunset provision requiring the Council to affirmatively vote to enact that section of the ordinance by September 1st, 2026.

Now, City Council President Josh Goldstein is balking at the “financial burden” of switching to electric equipment, yet the council still don’t know what that cost might be. FoA doesn’t understand why, at the time of passing the ordinance in 2024, there was no budget established. This seems like it should be a no brainer; but with no budget and a clear “sunset clause,” this ordinance was bound to struggle.

Council members also noted they feel it’s important to re-evaluate the enforcement aspect of the ordinance, since that’s apparently been inconvenient. But if enforcement is tricky, there’s a simple solution: better enforcement. The answer isn’t to subject residents to more pollution.

The original legislation clearly referred to gas-powered leaf blowers as “hyper-polluters,” and the city’s website still says that the ordinance was adopted in response to the many “health, safety and quality of life concerns raised by residents and experts,” which were well-documented in 2024. These facts have not changed.

What has changed, though, is apparently the city’s enthusiasm for following through on a well-informed ordinance.

Council members noted that the sudden re-litigation was sparked after outreach conducted among city “stakeholders.” But Friends of Animals believe that Norwalk’s nonhuman residents are, too, stakeholders, and their interests should not be overlooked.

Gas-powered leaf blowers are noisy, operating between 85-125 decibels, which the same frequency range birds use to communicate; when a bird’s ability to communicate isn’t available, that spells trouble.

A study conducted by Behavioral Ecology highlighted that birds exposed to continuous noise showed diminished responses to predatorial cues in nesting birds—their natural defense mechanisms were compromised due to noise pollution. A study published by Nature also found that noise pollution leads to reduced reproductive success in birds.

This goes without mentioning their garish emissions: fossil fuel-powered garden equipment released more than 30 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2020—more than all of Los Angeles—according to a report by U.S. Public Interest Research Groups Education fund; and running a gas-powered leaf blower for 30 minutes emits roughly the same amount of hydrocarbon emissions released by a Ford F150 driving from Maine to LA.

Amid a climate crisis that threatens even public health, it’s the city’s imperative to sharply reduce emissions. Not turn a blind eye simply because the city couldn’t get its act together. Whether intentionally or not.

Jack Keller is the Communications Director for Friends of Animals, and international animal advocacy organization headquartered in Darien, Connecticut.