Infernal machines

— Photo by fir0002 fl

From Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,” in GoLocal24.com

A Providence mayoral candidate could get a lot of votes with credible promises  for the city to crack down hard on ATV and dirt-bike users. They must be made very scared to ride in the city. The State of Rhode Island, through the State Police and new laws, must also bring much more force to bear against these potentially lethal and out-of-control offenders. Arrest, immediate jail, conviction and a memorable stay in the ACI.

And a candidate could  also gain more than a few votes by supporting a ban on  gasoline-fueled, shrieking and polluting leaf  blowers. It used to be that these infernal devices were mostly confined to blowing fallen leaves into piles to be trucked away in mid and late autumn. Now they’re used year-round to (often pointlessly) blast dust and other debris around, turning the surrounding neighborhoods into dead zones while they work.

Affluent property owners employ yard crews of hard-working illegal aliens (too few of whom are wearing ear protection) to wield these things; I’ve noticed that many  of the owners often arrange to be away at their summer or weekend houses when the crews show up.