Me vs. Leaf Blower Guy

I won. Leaf blowers whether gas or electric are illegal in SM. After 3 months of calling the city, then the police, then our neighborhood Santa Monica advocate (also police) and having none of those wonderful people give me the time of day, I emailed the building owner the SM city citing, code, violation and fine.

Let me bring you up to date --- Every Friday morning, leaf blower guy (LBG) would show up at my building to essentially blow the dirt, dog poop, trash and oh yeah, the non existent leaves around. He'd show up about 7-7:15 with a GAS powered unit, stand in front of bedroom windows (mine in particular) and go at it. It was loud, polluting and violating. I went out and nicely talked to him, he feigned not understanding English (of course). I was angry at him and he stared at me. I was furious, nothing. I took him the city code, the violation, the law, he laughed at me and literally blew the blower at me. I informed the building manager who did not reply back.

Finally, I wrote emails to the powers that be. Today... LGB was sweeping downstairs but didn't come into our building today. I waved at him from my balcony. He flipped me off once again. Nice. I don't care. I get his anger. Sweeping is not easy. Neither is being woken up to the sound and smell of a gas/oil mixture of fumes coming into your bedroom.

I win LBG. I haven't won or felt the world is fair in a very long time. We both benefited. You avoid a fine and get some much needed exercise and paid more for taking more time doing your job, I get to breathe, start my weekend off not angry and oppressed and having a little more say in my life and living area. I know you won't see it my way but today I feel a little better.