From the http://www.smdailyjournal.com

Easton tree is Pandora's box

Editor,

Burlingame is the City of Trees. As far back as 1910, it is noted that town trustees and residents alike recognized the value? of the trees. Tree-lined boulevards became a town characteristic. In 1913, when a proposal was made to cut trees, the Burlingame mayor promised that anyone caught doing so would be jailed.?

In March 2005, the City Council asked for a health report on the trees of Easton Drive. Kevin Kielty of Mayne Tree found the trees to be thriving? and added that the tree in front of the Easton Library had no decay in the trunk.? Despite the fact that this tree is healthy and has 20 to 50 years of life left, the Council has voted to remove it. Other trees that majestically line Easton Drive are also slated for removal.

Until now, only trees that were unhealthy have been removed in Burlingame. People complain about tree nuisances, but applications for removal of healthy trees that are bothersome,? have been denied by the city arborist, the Beautification Commission and the Council.

Now, the standards seem to have changed, an although there is an ordinance to protect the heritage trees of Burlingame, Mayor Terry Nagel, Councilwoman Ann Keighran and Councilwoman Rosalie O'Mahony have voted to remove a healthy tree of historical value. Now that Pandora's Box will be opened, there will be no grounds for denying removal of any tree in Burlingame, sick or not, and that is definitely a bad precedent to set.

In 1913, these councilwomen would have been jailed.

Sue Fuller
Burlingame

– Written by Joanne