Letter to the Editor: Value of Shorecrest Sequoias Was Not Considered

To the editor: 

Many people are angry because four big Sequoias have been cut at the Shorecrest High School campus.  They should be angry.  No one would argue about the need to remove a tree where a building will be newly positioned, but many other trees involve value judgments.  It is clear that little value was given to these Sequoias since they so easily could have been spared.  The overall plan for the rebuild could have been readily accomplished with these Sequoias still living.  As is, nothing was gained by the loss of four fine Sequoias which, by their presence, would have enhanced the new environment.

No building will be close to these stumps, only a road.  But a look at the plan shows that cars will always be positioned further from the eastern two stumps than they are now because the parking near the stumps will be eliminated.  

What excuse can be made for cutting these two Sequoias? And if the road had been shifted slightly and inconsequentially to the south, the western two stumps would also be further from cars than they are now.  There was no need to cut these two Sequoias either.  It looks to me like nothing was gained and much was lost by cutting the four big Sequoias.

Charlie Brown

Shoreline