City should take action on dying trees

The oak trees are dying. The oak tree that has been a symbol of strength and longevity for centuries is giving up the ghost to a fungus. If it happens to be in your yard the dead tree is a hazard that could come crashing through your roof. Recently a dead oak from a neighboring property crashed into my yard, damaging a newly planted garden and missing my porch by 15 feet.

Taking down a hazardous tree is also expensive. $5,000. I know because I recently took down a beautiful oak that had died and posed a hazard to my home. This is a cost that severely strains the budget of most families faced with an unexpected hazardous situation. Yet the City of Annapolis isn’t concerned. They have no inventory of hazardous trees, no plan to help reduce the burden of cost on private homeowners. They could for instance contract with companies to eliminate trees at a bundle cost that might reduce the cost to the homeowner.

Further, the city neglects eliminating dead trees in its own public right of way. Three such trees line Sixth Street across from the Farm Store which has a dead tree too. This corner is just one example of the “uglification of Annapolis.”

Annapolis is a state capital, it is a major national and international visitors center.

Inattention to dead and dying trees on public property is a message to our visitors of neglect and lack of pride in our special city. Dead trees also pose a potential hazard to pedestrians, and passing autos. Additionally for private property, the city displays woeful unconcern for providing a public service for citizens faced with unexpected hazardous conditions. Government is about public service.

Come on Mr. Mayor. Pay attention to the demise of the trees. Or your legacy could become the “uglification of Annapolis.” Ellen Moyer, Annapolis

Moyer is a former Annapolis mayor