Are you tired of pleading, asking, arguing, and proving that
trees have public value? Join TreePAC and make change happen the old-fashioned way – with money!
WHO: Citizen land stewards and tree lovers who are fed up with insufficient funds, laws, and enforcement pertaining to the Urban Forest.
WHAT: TreePAC, a political action committee for the trees of Seattle and King County, is forming and hosting its first fundraiser. Founding members, those who attend, will be asked to donate $25. If you cannot attend, please join by sending $25 or more to TreePAC at 906 NW 87th Street, Seattle, WA 98117. Include email address, please. We will not abuse or overuse this information.
WHEN: June 14th, Thursday. 6:30-8:30 pm
WHERE: The first gathering is at the home of Marianna Clark, 2116-2nd Ave W, Seattle 98119 (Queen Anne). Wine and cheese will be served. Please RSVP to [email protected].
WHY: To lobby for more care, planting, and protection of the Urban Forest on both public and private land.
CONTACT: Cass Turnbull, Founder and President at [email protected] or 206-783-9093.
TreePAC Position Statement
Voluntary tree preservation on private property will not work to save the essential canopy cover in Seattle and King County. This is confirmed by the fact that Seattle has lost 50% of its canopy cover over the last 50 years.
We must have both regulations and compelling incentives. Permits for tree removal, a mitigation fund for unavoidable tree loss during construction, and utility fee credits for tree canopy cover are just three ways to accomplish this. Current and upcoming ordinance proposals are woefully insufficient to the task.
The trees of Seattle and King County can no longer be considered just ornaments; in reality, trees are privately-owned public utilities that clean the air, prevent urban flooding, cool the globe, and sequester carbon. Like the air and water that exist on private property, trees need to be managed for the public benefit.
If local government can tell people what they can and can’t do with their banana peels, we ought to be able to compel residents to retain at least some trees – and reward them for doing so – for the present and future public benefit.
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