Pastor Sounds Off on Heights Officials About Tree Problems

Chicago Heights Patch is accepting letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site as received.

The following letter was submitted to Patch by the Rev. Leona Tichenor of the Olympia Fields United Methodist Church.

If you're interesting in submitting a letter, send an e-mail to christopher.paicely@patch.com.

Peril in the Heights

City officials continue to compromise public safety in Chicago Heights by neglecting to to remove dead and diseased parkway trees.

A few weeks ago, a diseased maple in my neighborhood lost a large branch from a parkway tree.  It fell across a driveway where a parked vehicle sustained minor damage.  Again today another large branch from the same tree fell across the street.  Fortunately no children were walking to school or playing on the sidewalk when these two branches fell. Two more large branches hang over the heads and property of my neighbors. 

Conversations with city officials reveal a dream for hiring an arborist to inventory all of the parkway trees and prioritize removal. However, this proposal is perpetually unfunded while unsafe tree branches are falling now.  Given the history of neglecting parkway trees, the city may well be exposing itself to significant liability.  Even worse, the public is at risk for major injury.  Why does the City continue to devote scarce resources to a programs like fall leaf collection while allowing a life-threatening situation with parkway trees to be continually put on the back burner due to lack of funds? 

Elected officials appear to underestimate the threat posed by these arboreal hazards. At a recent meeting, one characterized the tree problem as a need to trim the tree canopy. Though conflicts between street lights and street trees may need to be addressed the speaker implied that the tree canopy itself, a prized landscape feature in most cities, is the problem.  His statement overlooked the urgent need of preventing loss of life and property from falling branches. I am far less concerned about being mugged while walking in my neighborhood than by being assaulted by falling limbs. 

Residents can encourage city officials by photographing dead and heavily diseased trees and sending this documentation to the Mayor’s Office. City staff members appear to understand the challenge, elected officials need to get the lead out of their feet before someone gets hurt. 

-Leona Tichenor