October 2012

Things to know for Wednesday October 10^th, 2012

 The Arlington Landscape Association did NOT call for this special town meeting, a town meeting member did.

5,539 NO votes to repeal the ban were cast on July 19^th,  

2,619 yes were cast the same day.

We ask you to contact your town meeting member to let them know how you feel.

We invite you to join us on town hall steps @ 7pm tomorrow (10/10/12)

We thank you for your help!

Need a Ride to Vote?  Call 781-859-9510

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Dear friends and neighbors,

On Thursday July 19th we invite you to have your voice be heard.

Please let us know if you would be interested in holding a VOTE NO! sign at the Voting location that

is in your neighborhood.

We are looking for volunteers from 5 pm - 8 pm.

 Email for details.

 Please include: 

Name

   Email & Phone Number

    Voting Location

We will email / call you with more information.

Thank you,

The Arlington Landscape Association.

ArlingtonLandscapeAssociation@gmail.com

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Rebuttal to the Letter From the Arlington Advocate Editor:

      7/16/2012

I am writing in reply to the editorial published in this week’s Arlington Advocate written by the editor.   First, I wish to state that leaf blowers do not pose a health problem as per the Arlington Board of Health who said if they did they would have looked into this before.   They are still used at the schools and parks where our children are every day.   I have lived in Arlington and operated Tibbetts Landscaping, Inc. for over 30 years and have found blowers to be a safe and efficient way to clean property. The old way of running a lawn mower over walks and drives to clear debris uses a motor 5 times the size with much less efficiency and more fuel consumption. There are also existing laws to govern any noise, debris, or pollution that can easily be enforced without punishing everyone.  Every day the Arlington police give out speeding tickets to a small number of drivers, but the town meeting does not even think about stopping everyone from driving.

My main reason for writing this article in response to this editorial is to let the people of Arlington know how unbalanced this situation is.  Myself, and fellow members of the Arlington Landscape Association (ALA) are not “politically savvy” individuals so when we were faced with this ban we decided to organize and fight it.   We attended selectman meetings and asked for help and were turned down so we found the only way to go was to get enough signatures to call for a special election.  We were able to get twice as many supporters as needed in a few days, and we were granted the special election. We needed professional help so we went to the Advocate sales people who sold us thousands of dollars worth of ads and introduced us to the advocate’s direct mail department who sold us thousands of dollars more for post card mailings.   All along the Advocate sales staff acted to us and in print that they thought this ban was foolish. After taking our money they ran an article against our cause and refused to allow us print space to present our side of the argument.   The publisher said they thought they had a rebuttal article voicing our opinion that fell through, however they cannot name the person who was to write it.

After running this unanswered editorial and still refusing our rebuttal but accepting our almost $10,000 dollars in ad revenue, they have the audacity to run another editorial by their own editor against leaf blowers.  We, the members of the ALA feel the Advocate has used its position as the only print voice in Arlington to further it editor’s personal feelings as well as make several thousand dollars in the process.  The ALA as a group has proven we have the ability to organize and get things done, and we pledge to the people of Arlington to continue to stay together and educate our members, nonmembers, and the general public on the safe and efficient use of leaf blowers on a regular and ongoing basis.

Please get out and Vote NO to keep your rights to care for your property. Last year “bug zappers” were banned.   This year it’s leaf blowers.   What’s next? charcoal grills, gas lawn mowers, snow blowers, or possibly air conditioners? Let’s take back A- Town now while we still can.   Vote No on July 19th.

  Gary F.  Tibbetts, President

 Arlington Landscape Association

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***6,000 NO Votes are needed!  Please Vote!***
The Arlington Landscape Association.

President – Gary F. Tibbetts of Tibbetts Landscaping, Inc.

Vice President – William Downing of Downing Landscaping & Joseph Cusce of Black Diamond Landscapes

Secretary – Maureen Corbett of Jim's Landscaping

The Town of Arlington website can help you find out where to vote.

Not home for the election?

Go to the Town Clerks Office - Town Hall, 2nd floor - 730 Mass. Ave. - Arlington, MA 02476

781-316-3070

Hours Open:

http://www.arlingtonma.gov/public_documents/ArlingtonMA_Clerk/index

If you would be interested in a lawn sign, please email us with your name and address and we will make arrangements to have it delivered to you.

Thank you for your support!