Help Clean the Air by Reducing Gas Powered Leaf Blowers

Los Angeles has some of the worst air quality in the nation, primarily because of gas powered engines.  And some of those gas powered engines are the leaf blowers many of Hancock Park gardeners use.  Many people don’t realize that use of gas powered leaf blowers is illegal in the City of Los Angeles (LAMC 112.04).  You can find a copy of the ordinance at http://bss.lacity.org/investigationandenforcement/GasPoweredLeafBlowerEnforcement.pdf .   So make a New Year’s resolution to talk with your gardener, find out if they use a gas powered leaf blower and, if they do, ask them to either switch to an electric battery operated blower or use a rake and broom.  But don’t let them switch to using water; this too is illegal.

Now that winter and slightly cooler temperatures are here, think about planting a tree.   A tree does more for cleaning the air than just about anything else and they provide shade in the summer.  The Tree Committee has completed the inventory of parkway trees and is planning to plant parkway trees in the coming months.  If you need a parkway tree contact the Association Tree Committee at our website.

Unfortunately, thefts go up during the holidays, so be safe bykeeping doors and windows locked, arming your alarm if you have one and if you think someone is on your property call 911.  Don’t confront anyone yourself.   Also, don’t leave anything in your car in plain view; seeing packages in a car is often an invitation for theft.

And since Hancock Park is an HPOZ be sure and check with our City Planner Suki Gershenhorn (suki.gershenhorn@lacity.org), before starting any major landscahing or planning changes to the exterior of your house .  The HPOZ Preservation Plan, which regulates our HPOZ can be found at http://www.preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park   There is also an online form you can fill out to help speed up the process (http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/initial.screening.checklist).  Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System - http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org/welcome.cfm?CFID=1007&CFTOKEN=411CDB4F-0FC3-4EE1-89DE58DCCB435538 and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180.