West Orange Mayor Vetoes Leaf Blower Ban For Second Time

NOTE: Read our update to this article here.

WEST ORANGE, NJ -- It's déjà vu in West Orange, where the mayor has vetoed a leaf blower ban passed by the town council... again.

Earlier this month, the town council voted in favor of an ordinance regulating gas-powered leaf blowers on second reading at their meeting. The ban is “seasonal” for now, but would become permanent at the end of the year. Read More: West Orange Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

On Friday, West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney announced that she is vetoing the law.

McCartney said that enforcement of the law would be difficult because it requires a time-stamped photo of the alleged violation, and the person who took the photo would have to agree to testify in court.

The mayor argued that the technology is not in place, and that the law will put a disproportionate burden on seniors and the local business community. She also said it will burden the local public school district, which is grappling with potential staff cuts and a tax hike in this year's proposed budget. See Related: Staff Cuts, Tax Hike Possible In West Orange School Budget

The town council passed a similar ban last year – but it was eventually vetoed by McCartney. See Related: West Orange Mayor Vetoes Leaf Blower Ban (Here’s Why)

Councilwoman Joyce Rudin said that according to the Faulkner Act, a mayoral veto can be overridden by a "super majority" vote of two-thirds of the council, or four votes in West Orange's case.

Read McCartney's full veto statement below, or view it online here.

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