This tree does not need to come down

Everyone on my street is horrified by the city of Buffalo's plans to take down this beautiful old silver maple. It is an easeway tree, so it technically belongs to the city, but the owners of the blue house behind it, Michael and Susan, have offered to pay for the trimming it certainly needs. Michael and Susan have also asked to look at the file that contains the report from the authority that sealed its fate—no luck either way.

When federal money comes into town—as it did after the October storm that damaged this and many other trees—people who have been civil servants and politicians too long might look at the largess not as an opportunity to do civic good, but as a gravy train with room on it for everyone who's done them a favor or can do them a favor. Hence, lots of trees are coming down, at least in part because it's a payday for lots of politically connected people.

This is a rant, mainly, but I also am inviting any readers who are willing to email Dan Kreuz, the Director of Public Works, to advocate for the tree in front of 35 North Pearl. Seriously. I'm circulating this all I can within local networks, of course, but what the heck, many of you are experts and maybe it would do good. dkreuz@city-buffalo.com Or, if you like, call him: 716-851-5636.

Even if not, it's a tree worth ranting about.