Ban leaf burning in village and state

I couldn't help myself, I had to chuckle when I read Chad Brooks' article about North Barrington's compromise on leaf burning (Dec. 21). The same headline appeared when Hawthorn Woods decided on a "compromise" on leaf burning.

Our elected officials don't get it. Limiting leaf burning to a few days and hours a week in the spring and fall is not a "compromise"; it could be a death sentence to some and discomfort for all.

The article stated "according to the Environmental Protection Agency leaf burning generates carcinogens, which can increase the chances of respiratory infection, reduce volume of air inhaled and impair the lungs ability to use that air."

I just don't understand our elected officials in Hawthorn Woods and the state of Illinois. They can pass laws restricting smoking for 365 days per year to protect the citizens from second-hand smoke, but fail to protect the citizens form worse airborne carcinogens from leaf burning.

A person can avoid secondhand smoke by not going in or to leave a room where people are smoking. You can not avoid the stench from the billowing black smoke from leaf burning. We all share the same air and when a few leaf burners pollute that air with carcinogens worse then tobacco smoke, it is just not fair that we all must suffer. We can not escape the harmful effects of the leaf burning smoke, even in our own homes.

I am pleading to the Hawthorn Woods and the state of Illinois elected officials to come up with alternative ways to remove yard waste and to stand up and be bold. Ban leaf burning.

Other villages/cities have pick ups and mulching programs for yard waste and they ban leaf burning. The residents in those villages/cities are healthier because they breathe cleaner air.

Please help all of us to breathe cleaner air 365 days a year and ban leaf burning.

Edward Neuman

Hawthorn Woods