Willful destruction of trees

It appears that the tree “trimmers,” having hacked, chopped and sawed their way across the rest of the island, have finally begun their inexorable march down Beach Road, enforcing the draconian provisions of Public Law 14-12, which prohibits any part of any tree or vegetation from extending within 15 feet of a power line. The result of this obnoxious and unnecessary law, if it continues to be enforced, will be the rapid destruction and/or mutilation of virtually all the flame trees on the east side of Beach Road south of the Garapan fishing base, and on the west side from the fishing base north to American Memorial Park.

Does anyone really think that is a good idea?

My recommendation to any legislators reading this: Repeal Public Law 14-12 immediately! And then, once we have stopped chopping down the trees we already have, let us plant some more. So far as I can recall, none of the numerous flame trees on Beach Road that have fallen in typhoons or been cut by business owners during at least the last 10 years has ever been replaced. Dozens, if not hundreds, of new flame trees should now be planted to fill the gaps along both sides of the road, seizing as many sections of as many parking lots as may be necessary to the purpose, and they should then be allowed to grow freely until their branches meet over the middle of the road.

Nor should we limit ourselves to Beach Road. Middle Road, in particular, has become a vast overbuilt sun-baked asphalt desert, and stands in dire need of some good old-fashioned shade. Parallel rows of big trees should be planted down each side of it, with another row down a median in the middle for good measure. And I don’t mean scrawny touristy palms like the median trees in Garapan. I mean great big cool, leafy shade trees like the ones in front of CHC, or across from the post office in Chalan Kanoa. (Flame trees should probably not be used, however, to avoid putting all our eggs in one basket in case of disease.)

So how are we going to pay for all this? First of all, we can devote to planting trees that portion of the budget that is now devoted to chopping them down, which is apparently substantial. If that is not enough, then we can use the millions that are about to be wasted on the enclosure of the airport departure area, a project that amounts to the willful destruction of the best and most attractive feature of the most impressive public structure in the Commonwealth, and should, like the tree-chopping, be canceled immediately.

My support in the coming election will be for those candidates who are pro-tree, pro-shade and pro-fresh air, and are willing to enact measures such as are called for herein. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Jed Horey
As Matuis, Saipan