100 signatures reached
To: Mayor Rex Richardson and City Council
SAVE OUR LIFE-GIVING TREES
The residents of Long Beach oppose the city’s policy for trimming or demolishing of street and park trees. We understand the necessity for pruning, and occasionally replacing diseased trees that can’t be saved by other means, but the current methodology leaves a lot of room for improvement.
LONG BEACH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (LB CAP)
The city’s website reads, “Long Beach strives to be a more sustainable and resilient city in the face of climate change impacts,” this has various strategies including, “natural, and community-based.” Despite the above commitments, the city is moving in the opposite direction.
CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Trimming or demolishing trees during warmer months creates a heat-island effect that contributes to climate change. Surrounding vegetation will lose protection and dry up or require more irrigation, nearby homes will become warmer and will run air conditioning longer, disproportionately affecting the health of low income neighborhoods and those on fixed income.
DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT
Trimming or demolishing trees during nesting season, January 15 through September 15, destroys habitat for a multitude of birds, squirrels, and beneficial insects when they are most active.
DAMAGING OUR TREES
Trimming trees in the warmer months when trees are sprouting new growth causes shock to the trees; this practice needs to be done in late fall and winter when trees go into a dormant state, otherwise trees are weakened and more susceptible to disease.
DAMAGING OUR HEALTH
Each year a mature tree consumes 48 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO2) and produces enough oxygen for two adults; this is a critical need everywhere but particularly in western Long Beach where we have some of the highest levels of ozone and other types of pollution in the nation, yet we have the least number of trees in the city. Trimming or demolishing trees is a contributing factor to our high levels of asthma and cancer and our diminished life expectancy.
DAMAGING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Trees have a tangible and significant positive impact to our neighborhoods. Botanists, environmentalists, architects, planners, real estate professionals, and the rest of us are in agreement that the beauty provided by trees adds value to our lives and our neighborhoods. The joy of going for a walk under the shade of a dense green canopy in the summer is unparalleled. Our children, our senior citizens, and our pets appreciate it.
Mayor Richardson and council members, we implore, stop deforesting our neighborhoods! Stop contributing to climate change! Stop destroying habitat! Follow the LB CAP!
LONG BEACH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (LB CAP)
The city’s website reads, “Long Beach strives to be a more sustainable and resilient city in the face of climate change impacts,” this has various strategies including, “natural, and community-based.” Despite the above commitments, the city is moving in the opposite direction.
CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Trimming or demolishing trees during warmer months creates a heat-island effect that contributes to climate change. Surrounding vegetation will lose protection and dry up or require more irrigation, nearby homes will become warmer and will run air conditioning longer, disproportionately affecting the health of low income neighborhoods and those on fixed income.
DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT
Trimming or demolishing trees during nesting season, January 15 through September 15, destroys habitat for a multitude of birds, squirrels, and beneficial insects when they are most active.
DAMAGING OUR TREES
Trimming trees in the warmer months when trees are sprouting new growth causes shock to the trees; this practice needs to be done in late fall and winter when trees go into a dormant state, otherwise trees are weakened and more susceptible to disease.
DAMAGING OUR HEALTH
Each year a mature tree consumes 48 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO2) and produces enough oxygen for two adults; this is a critical need everywhere but particularly in western Long Beach where we have some of the highest levels of ozone and other types of pollution in the nation, yet we have the least number of trees in the city. Trimming or demolishing trees is a contributing factor to our high levels of asthma and cancer and our diminished life expectancy.
DAMAGING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Trees have a tangible and significant positive impact to our neighborhoods. Botanists, environmentalists, architects, planners, real estate professionals, and the rest of us are in agreement that the beauty provided by trees adds value to our lives and our neighborhoods. The joy of going for a walk under the shade of a dense green canopy in the summer is unparalleled. Our children, our senior citizens, and our pets appreciate it.
Mayor Richardson and council members, we implore, stop deforesting our neighborhoods! Stop contributing to climate change! Stop destroying habitat! Follow the LB CAP!
Why is this important?
Saving our trees is important for various reasons. For some it’s climate change and protection of habitat, for others it’s aesthetic, for others it’s personal health and well-being, and for others it’s protecting property values. Or… all of the above.