Daniel Marsh: Clotheslines are cheaper than driers and entirely legal

It is amazing that around the city and region landlords and homeowners associations are banning the use of outside clotheslines and drying racks. Well, this is just plainly against current law and tenants should defy such restrictions and stick up for their rights.

The use of outside clotheslines takes advantage of free solar energy and saves money and energy. Electric or gas dryers create more cost and air pollution.

I hope in the near future the Modesto City Council will pass a strong resolution telling landlords and homeowners associations that the use of outside drying lines and racks must be allowed. This would help low-income persons who otherwise must drop coins into commercial electric dryers. We have one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. Let’s save some cash for ourselves and use simple, green energy.

There is a bill on the governor’s desk, Assembly Bill 1448, that makes it clear that using clotheslines to dry clothes in unrestricted. Tenants should stick up for their rights and take advantage of free solar energy.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 1:14 PM with the headline "Daniel Marsh: Clotheslines are cheaper than driers and entirely legal."