There is an outstanding article relevant to our local community. For those who read The New York Times, I strongly recommend reading What Technology Could Reduce Heat Deaths? Trees written by By Catrin Einhorn, Published July 2, 2021, Updated July 3, 2021. It puts the issue of trees into greater perspective, not as a landscaping accessory, but as actual infrastructure that actually serves our community.
As the article leads: At a time when climate change is making heat
waves more frequent and more severe, trees are stationary superheroes: They can
lower urban temperatures 10 lifesaving degrees, scientists say.
So why is this
relevant? The article discusses recent development in Des Moines and how
that local government drew a line in the Earth, holding that “The
default position for us is, you don’t take out big trees to put in small
trees.”
I have always taken a position to save the trees, or plant
much greater than 1:1 for any trees that were lost. Why is this relevant?
Because Palmetto Bay had a chance to save the large mature trees that greet us
along SW 136 Street. The die was cast on April 6, 2020, when the mayor and 2020
village council voted 3-2 to modify the plan from bike lanes to the MEGA shared
path. Council Members David Singer and Marsha Matson were the only members of
the village council to vote against this agenda item.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Council Member Marsha Matson specifically demanded to see a
landscaping plan, but she and Council Member Singer were outvoted in a 3-2
vote.
INTERESTING QUESTION
OF POLICY: If Council Members Matson and Singer fight to save the trees,
but are outvoted 3-2 – (especially without even seeing the landscaping plan
village taxpayers are paying for,) do those trees make a sound when they are
felled?
Who needs to see a landscaping plan? Not this current mayor or the 2019 village council. The 3 to 2 majority authorized the Interim Manager to spend up to
$58,000.00 to revise the design contract without event asking to see a landscaping
plan. Wait, not they actually voted 3 - 2 to move forward, despite strong objections of 2 of the 5 members of the village council. Talk about blind faith or a shot in the dark!
Are mature trees
important? And as the article continues discussing the importance of these
trees,
Here’s
why: At a time when climate change is making heat waves more frequent and more
severe, trees are stationary superheroes. Research shows that heat already
kills more people in the United States than hurricanes, tornadoes and other
weather-events, perhaps contributing to 12,000 deaths per year. Extreme heat
this week in the Pacific Northwest and Canada has killed hundreds.
Trees
can lower air temperature in city neighborhoods 10 lifesaving degrees,
scientists have found. They also reduce electricity demand for air
conditioning, not only sparing money and emissions, but helping avoid potentially
catastrophic power failures during heat waves.
It was important to me that Palmetto Bay become a Tree City
USA community – and we did.
It is important for me that we shift development and do what
we can to preserve the 22 acres at the Palmetto Bay Village Center – and that
fight continues.
I do consider trees to be our infrastructure, as mentioned
in this article: “In addition to reducing heat, trees filter out air pollution, suck up
storm water, store carbon, nurture wildlife and even improve people’s mental
and physical health.”
Small trees may be cute, but the replacement trees slated
for SW 136 street will be at least 40 years behind the mature specimen trees
currently marked for death or removal. The much smaller replacement trees will
have big roots to fill.
PRIOR RELATED POST,
BACKGROUND: June 28, 2021, The smoking gun: April 6, 2019, the day the
current mayor and the 2019 council voted to change the bike lane plan to shared
path by a narrow 3 – 2 vote. Now they are coming for the mature trees
