Readers React: Money doesn’t clean our air or provide shade

To the editor: Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, will man realize that he can’t eat money. (“Thousand Oaks redevelopment sparks public outcry to save the trees,” July 18)

Just because the owners of the Westlake Plaza mall in Thousand Oaks can legally remove more than 200 established trees to make way for their redevelopment project doesn’t mean they should. The nature in our cities must be preserved and protected for future generations.

What took 200 years to create can be destroyed in days. Something is terribly wrong with our priorities.

Debbie Hooper, Encino

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To the editor: Of the trees on the Thousand Oaks property that were taken down, a number were quite unattractive and not planted in any particular order. Mall owner Regency Centers Corp. has been doing a great job with its project.

Besides the issue raised by the shopping center project, in light of the major California drought and certain tree diseases appearing, the viability of all trees we have planted in the area will have to be re-evaluated.

Virginia Prcic, Westlake Village