Preserve the magic

It has been heartbreaking tofindoutthattheenchanting lights that made our downtown trees glow in the evenings may never be returned to their former place since the branches were pruned by city maintenance employees.

When I moved to Vallejo eight years ago the downtown area looked desolate and rundown.ItwasnotaplacethatI planned to visit anytime soon. Since then the area has made a remarkable transformation, despitethefactthatthereare still some areas of blight. That transformation has been significantly reversed by the removal of the downtown lights.

Before COVID, I was a regular attendee at downtown functions, especially in the evenings. One of my favorite events was the wine and chocolatewalksthatprovidedthe funds to hang the lights. It is sad to learn that the effort and money raised were greatly diminished by the necessary maintenance. I realize that Vallejo is a city with limited financial resources, but the low priority given to re-hanging the lights in their former condition indicates that the city administrators do not care about our city and don’t understand how much the community values the charm that the tree lights add. Hanging a single strand from tree to tree does not have the same effect.

Furthermore, the streets made the streets seem much friendlier and safer, especially in the fall, winter, and early spring when the sun sets before festivities begin.

It must be especially sad for the people who have donated their time to the community in the form of murals, festivals, art, and music events. I can only imagine how devastating it must feel to those who volunteered their time and effort to raise funds for those lights. I implore city administrators to consider supporting efforts to preserve the magical ambiance of our lovely sparkling downtown trees.

— Victoria Preciado/Vallejo