This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

I'm Roman Mars.

The leaf blower is one of the most hated objects in the modern world.

If you've lived pretty much anywhere in America in the last 40 years, you probably

know their motorized wine. They're loud, they pollute, and how important is a leafless lawn anyway.

In a lot of towns and cities, the gas-powered leaf blower has been banned.

In others, there are strict guidelines on where and when they can be used, but in Los Angeles, California, the leaf blower has never gone quiet.

Best reporter Phil Corbett from a podcast called The Wind.

In 2024, the state of California banned the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers.

But this most recent development is just the latest shot in the Los Angeles Leaf Blower Wars

This is a fight that goes back decades a fight that's kicked up questions about labor rights, environmental concerns, and

ideas of beauty.

In 1970's Los Angeles, it was common for people to hose down their driveways.

Homeowners, renters, and gardeners would wash dirt and leaves and whatever else out onto the street. But a serious drought in

1976 and 77 spurred many Californians to start saving water and stop hosing

everything down all the time.

And as it just so happened, to meet this moment a new piece of machinery was introduced to America.

There's a lot of things we like to do out. to America.

There's a lot of things we like to do outdoors, like golf, gardening, and backpacking with echo. The Japanese company, Echo, debuted what they called the cleanup machine.

In fall, it rounds up a yard full of leaves in no time.

We use it year round for garden grooming, sidewalk, patio and driveway sweeping.

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