Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care and One Step Tree & Lawn Care
(draft letter to the editor for potential use by clients)

March, 2005

Dear Editor:
I'm writing today to urge Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and members of the Monroe County Legislature to please vote against the proposed Neighbor Notification Law.
As someone who contracts with a local lawn-care company, I rely tremendously on their experience and expertise in the care and upkeep of my entire yard - my lawn, bushes, gardens and trees.
Over the past few years, these lawn-care experts have proven to me, over and over again, that they are true professionals. They know exactly what my yard's needs are and they treat any problem areas not only with care, but always with the safety of others in mind.
The proposed Neighbor Notification Law, while well-intentioned, would hurt lawn-care companies like the one that services my yard. It would also increase prices for customers, a daunting prospect for those like myself who have no desire to replace a lawn-care expert with a lawn-care amateur - me!
I worry about what effect such a proposal would have on the overall environment as well. It's my understanding that granular pesticides are exempt from the proposal, as are pesticides used by farmers, golf courses, municipalities and cemeteries. With so many exemptions this proposal can't possibly be good.
Local and regional lawn-care companies have come up with an alternative to the proposed law: a countywide registry that would ensure that the people who want to be notified, are notified.
Lawn-care experts are committed to this registry and would like to see it tested this season to see if it actually works. If it doesn't, Monroe County lawmakers will still have time later in the fall to enact the proposed Neighbor Notification Law, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2006 whether it's enacted in May or November.
This seems to be a reasonable request - and one Monroe County lawmakers ought to agree to.

Sincerely,
John Q. Public