Neighborhoods: The Power to Cut Trees

You missed the whole point in the Palos Verdes Estates tree trimming story (“Elms Are at the Root of the Problem,” March 3). The question is not “Can’t we all get along?” but “What have Via Almar residents got on the City Council to get them to toady to their every whim?”

They got the Council to waive citywide policy to allow them license to chop any tree that has the temerity to infringe upon their views. We hear they did this with an agreement so secret that the city would rather opt to violate the Freedom of Information Act than disclose it to Via Media residents.

They also have the city manager hopping to--reminding them when it’s time to cut other people’s trees, collecting the fees and personally directing the chain saws lest an offending branch go unchopped and unleash the Via Almar wrath. Every single year--no other street gets this kind of service.

Anyone doubting their power need only drive down Via Media to see what the Almar folks can do to a historic stand of elms, planted before there even was a Palos Verdes Estates, when they set their minds to it. Awesome.

TRUDY D. WASNEY Palos Verdes Estates