So far, so good; the trees made it through storm

I'm happy to report that the vast majority of trees in Coconut Grove (meaning all except two or three) made it through the rain (and hail storm on Friday). None of them fell down, except one or two at the Seminole Boat Ramp and one on Virginia Street, but those "dangerous, dead, failing trees" according to Lisa Hammer's report, the City's paid Horticultural Consultant, where she claims they are in such fragile shape that they are going to fall and kill someone, are still upright and healthy. Chairs flew through the air on Friday, but no tree limbs fell on anyone or anything. No trees or leaves, for that matter, came down on Commodore Plaza.

Fridays, wind, rain and hail did not make a dent in those trees that Lisa claims are in need of replacement due to their poor condition. The truth of the matter is they are totally fine, totally healthy and the report should be changed to reflect the truth. The above photo was taken yesterday (Sunday) morning, where families were all sitting under them, enjoying Father's Day meals -- breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. And no one was crushed by a falling tree limb.

To be honest, if there was such a danger of falling trees, would people be permitted to sit under them and dine every day of the year? Come on!

A couple of healthy trees came down at the Horseshoe area at the end of McFarlane and and also one on Virginia. But who is to say what is healthy and what is diseased? We can all get hit by a bus and die tomorrow, does that make us unhealthy today? Same with the trees. We don't need people walking around with a clipboard playing God, for pay, no less.

The City's report should state: "These trees are being taken out and replaced because we can charge the taxpayers $10,000 for each tree that is replaced by installing the cocamamie Silva Cell System under each new tree we plant. If the trees are not replaced, the job fee for the sidewalk replacement and the whole streetscape plan can not be jacked up."