The local newspaper in La Jolla, California, has a report on efforts to ban gas-powered leaf blowers there, with a principle emphasis on equity.

The story, by Elisabeth Frausto, says in part:

Peter Andersen, past chairman of the Sierra Club San Diego chapter and current vice chairman of its conservation committee, helped institute a partial ban on leaf blowers at San Diego State University 12 years ago. He said the “equity part is central,” noting that his committee drafted a sample ordinance that includes programs such as buy-back or trade-in.

Andersen said he’d like to look into a “collaborative arrangement between our city and the state of California to get a subsidy” to defray the cost of such programs.

Myles Pomeroy, director of public policy for the League of Women Voters of San Diego, said funding for trade-in and training programs might come from a combination of state money and local foundation grants.

San Diegan Brian Gotta suggested companies that manufacture battery-powered leaf blowers, which would benefit from a ban on gas-powered blowers, might be asked to help defray the cost of a trade-in program.

La Jollan Carolyn Marsden, a member of Ban Leaf Blowers San Diego — which has collected more than 1,400 signatures on an online petition — asked Elliott if a ban on leaf blowers could start with those used on city property. Elliott replied, “I personally love the idea of the city leading by example.”

The story is worth reading in full, here.