The Giving Trees

This responds to the letter titled “Pruning Patrol.” I am very thankful for the City of Santa Barbara’s regulations to reduce tree removal and overpruning, and for city employees Tim Downey, Randy Fritz, and the urban forest management staff for helping to maintain the quality of life in our community.

For just one example, in the past eight years, my neighborhood, La Cumbre Circle, has gone from a sylvan oasis to what is beginning to resemble a sod farm due to misguided tree cutting. The resulting loss is not only the irreplaceable beauty of majestic full-grown trees, but less trees mean fewer homes for birds, dirtier air, increased water use on lawns, decreased home energy efficiency, and lower property values. All that is left between our lovely forest-like landscapes and unsightly concrete hardscapes are tree preservation regulations and those who enforce them for the welfare of everyone.

Given the many great benefits of our trees, I encourage the continued support by the Santa Barbara community and the City Council to preserve and increase our precious tree assets.