The Scourge of Gas-powered Leaf Blowers

Is your quality of life enhanced by the sound of gas leaf blowers or the fumes those blowers emit?

Quiet Clean PDX (QCPDX) is a coalition of concerned Portlanders working to eliminate gas leaf blowers locally and beyond. We have over 1,800 subscribers to our monthly newsletter and you can find the organizations that endorse us—including 15 Portland neighborhood associations at www.quietcleanpdx.org. 

Gas leaf blowers:

•  Create high-intensity intrusive noise    that disturbs neighborhood residents, passersby, and shoppers and can lead to permanent hearing loss for the operator

•  Create health risks with the emissions of toxic substances that can cause cancer, heart and lung disease

•  Cause air pollution with the emission of smog-forming chemicals

•  Require fossil fuels (gas and oil) for operation and thereby emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change.

QCPDX is hopeful that the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association will endorse our goal of transitioning to alternatives including battery-operated leaf blowers and manual tools like rakes. We hope to encourage a healthier and simpler approach to lawn and garden care that reduces the need for gas-powered equipment.  

Thank you for your consideration- The Quiet Clean PDX Steering Committee

Note: The SNA will be voting at our General Meeting on January 12th about whether or not to endorse Quiet Clean PDX’s mission.

News from the President

Happy Holidays Sunnyside! 

The SNA met on November 10th for our bi-monthly meeting. A big topic of conversation was Mayor Ted Wheeler’s new plan to open large designated campsites across the city and to gradually ban unsanctioned camping by Portland’s houseless residents. Sam Adams, from the Mayor’s office, kicked off a series of meetings with neighborhood stakeholders on November 9th to discuss their vision. The pilot site would open with space for up to 150 people. They eventually expect to have six sites, with space for up to 250 people at each site. The mayor’s office says that each city-owned site would be managed by a private contractor, providing two meals, heated tents and access to service providers, like mental health, housing coordinators and drug treatment. The camps would be fenced and would have security, including in the 1000 feet surrounding each site. There are still many details to work out, including site selection and finances. Many meetings with the mayor’s office will continue over the coming months. They hope to be off the ground within 18 months.

We also had a presentation from Quiet Clean PDX (QC PDX). This organization is working towards a future where Portland would be free of gas-powered leaf blowers, as they greatly decrease air quality, cause extensive noise pollution and may present particular health hazards to their operators. This was an educational presentation and we may look at endorsing their campaign in the future, if the neighborhood is interested.

In other news, Portland voted for a new form of government with multi-member districts, proportional ranked-choice-voting, and a city administrator to manage bureaus! This is a big change for our city, and Portland needs you to stay involved. Over the coming months there will be many opportunities to participate in shaping the new government. Keep an eye on https://www.portland.gov/transition for opportunities to serve your community by making this change a reality.

The SNA board will have its monthly meeting on December 8th and we will return for our next general meeting in January.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season filled with friends, family and bright tidings for the coming new year. And I hope to see many of you at Sunnyside’s brightest tradition – the lights on Peacock Lane!

Celebrate the Holidays on Peacock Lane

Greetings! The residents of Portland’s beloved “Christmas Street” are pleased to announce the schedule for this year’s Lights on Peacock Lane Event. The lights will be on daily every night from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. starting on December 15th  and ending on December 31st.

Returning this year are the Hot Cocoa Booth and pedestrian-only nights! 

The Hot Cocoa Booth provides hot cocoa and cider (free of charge) to the public during the event. Donations are, of course, accepted and help defray certain costs, but they are not required. The booth runs from December 15th – 24th, while supplies last.

We’re delighted to announce the return of pedestrian-only nights, which will take place on December 15th, 16th, and 17th!

During these nights, the Lane will be closed to vehicle traffic, which means the public may walk on the Lane itself for an even better view of the lights. On December 18th, pedestrian-only nights end and vehicles can drive down the Lane, though we recommend planning ahead as traffic will get heavy. 

And, of course, Peacock Lane is always free!