Tree-Trimming Complaint

We have just witnessed a sad occurrence in front of a house just two doors from us. The street maintenance department has just cut down a dead tree that has stood for probably 40 years.

The tree died because it was one of many in this area that was improperly trimmed this spring by contract tree trimmers hired by the city. Our three maples were probably saved because my wife and I reacted rather vigorously when men with chain saws started butchering them. The bosses got together in the middle of the street and actually hooted, “He thinks he knows how trees should be trimmed.” They were deterred slightly, but they continued their effort on the poor tree two doors away.

I called street maintenance at the time and received what the public too often encounters--the City Hall shuffle. I was transferred from Valley to downtown and back to the Valley until I finally gave up. Another neighbor whose tree died shortly after was told that he was the only one who complained.

WILBUR E. MOSIER

Woodland Hills