And the survey says...
River Oaks Examiner, February, 2005

Most respondents in a recent survey of River Oaks residents favor restricting the use of leaf blowers and obtaining consent from the River Oaks Property Owners Board before removing large, healthy trees.

According to tabulations provided by the Citizens' League for Envoronmental Action, 36 percent of those returning questionnaires endorsed a complete ban on leaf blowers, while 44 percent wanted unspecified regulations on such equipment. Nineteen percent favored no restrictions.

On the tree issue, 62 percent favored the removal of large, healthy trees only with the prior consent of the board, while 33 percent preferred no guidelines at all.

The Citizens' League mailed about 1,500 questionnaires in late January, using a list of owners provided by ROPO, said Geoffrey Castro of the league. Of that number, 535 responded to the leaf blower survery and 517 returned to tree removal questionnaire.

Feb. 13 was the cut-off day for tabulations. For comments included by respondents in their questionnaires, visit www.cleanhouston.org.