Can the trees on Fuller Street be saved?

As reported in the September 16 Coconut Grove Grapevine's coverage of the recent Grove streetscape meeting (story here), "Liliana Dones, co-chair of Coconut Grove's TreeWatch, asked if Fuller Street could be closed permanently in an effort to save all the trees that were set to be replaced. (Story on streetscape plan here).

She was told that the trees are infected and/or diseased and they need to be replaced..." Her concerns have been mirrored by others regarding the destruction of trees along Commodore Plaza. I, too, seriously question the need for the wholesale destruction of the trees along Fuller Street and Commodore Plaza, and feel the BID should provide Grove residents with answers to the following questions:

1) Who is the consultant that determined that the trees are "infected and/or diseased"?
2) Does this consultant have a degree in Plant Pathology?
3) If not, what experience does this consultant have in field diagnosis of tree diseases?
4) As a former employee of the US Department of Agriculture and Director of statewide plant disease program, I know that visual symptomology is often misleading and plant diseases cannot be definitively diagnosed unless the presence of the causal organism is confirmed by a laboratory. Was the diagnosis of the Fuller Street trees as "infected and/or diseased" confirmed by a lab?
5) If so, what lab was used?
6) What is the scientific name of the pathogen has been determined to be infecting and causing disease in these trees?
7) Is the pathogen infecting and/or causing disease in these trees a virus, bacterium, or fungus
8) Have all available treatment options been investigated to determine if the infection can be controlled in the trees without killing them?

All Grove residents who wish to see the Grove's tree canopy protected, especially that of Fuller Street and Commodore Plaza, should add their voice to mine in insisting that the BID provide answers to the questions above and assurance that all reasonable options are considered before allowing the trees to be destroyed.

Michael Hornyak
Coconut Grove, FL

Editor's note: I have sent these eight questions to David Collins, head of the Coconut Grove BID. I'll report back his response.