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New Tree Group Organizes

Tree advocates are joining together to demand that the City of Atlanta enforce the Tree Ordinance.

From the Buckhead Reporter...

New Group Supports Atlanta's Tree Canopy From Grass Roots Up
by John F. Schaffner
May 15, 2009

Canopy Keepers Atlanta might not survive as the name for a new grass-roots group organizing to protect Atlanta's trees — thus its tree canopy — by insisting the city's tree protection ordinance be enforced as intended, fairly, consistently and without exception.

The name was what the group of about 15 people — several longtime activists for trees — came up with for the organization at the end of a two-hour meeting May 11 at the home of Dr. Jeri Breiner on Woodhaven Road in Buckhead.

But the vote was not unanimous, and all agreed to consider it again at the next meeting, June 1 at the same location. Several in the group preferred the name The Tree Next Door.

While the group was not able to decide on a permanent name or a mission statement — those items were sent to committee for consideration at the next meeting — all of the participants understood they were there because they want to protect Atlanta's healthy trees from being cut down willy-nilly.

During remarks welcoming the group to her home, Breiner said: "This is not just about reinstating Tom Coffin (Atlanta's former chief field arborist, who was fired by the city last year), although that is part of it.

"Tom got squashed because he tried to help us save the trees."

Breiner, who said her father was a developer and she is not what is thought of as a "tree hugger," said: "House by house, we are losing our trees. Development by development, we are losing our trees."... more
Although it could stand some improvements, the Tree Ordinance in Atlanta is perhaps the strongest and most rational tree law in the nation. However, Atlanta's Bureau of Buildings has arbitrarily overturned the ordinance by firing the only city arborist who was enforcing the law without prejudice. You may recall the letter issued from the City last fall which explained that Tom Coffin was fired because he was unwilling to bend the law for some lawbreakers. The letter, signed by Alfred Elder, Human Resources Director of the City of Atlanta, said in part:

You [Tom Coffin] chose to enforce the Tree Ordinance primarily by issuing citations. Your supervisor and subordinates considered this approach extreme and elected to work with citizens in a more collaborative/non-confrontational manner.

Collaborating with citizens is a politically correct way of saying that Tom should have let developers cut down healthy trees without requiring them to pay recompense. Non-confrontational means Tom should have looked the other way when a developer refused to comply with the Tree Ordinance.

Talk about a city government that thinks it's above the law!

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