Tulsans alerted to tree cutting

Today the Tulsa World ran its first story about the tree cutting in Woodward Park. Jane Halliwell, who has lived across from the park for decades, was astonished to see so many trees being removed, and called it to their attention.

Unfortunately, she told the reporter that she ran outside barefoot, so the story was about a well-intentioned but ill-informed barefoot tree-hugger. To make matters worse, the Parks Department's position was presented uncritically. Mike Perkins, the interim Urban Forester, told the reporter that the Parks Department had "no choice" but to remove the "aging, damaged and diseased" trees, that the trees presented an immediate danger and "somebody could be hurt", that there was a "staff shortage" of trimmers, and that "more resources were needed" if we wanted to trim them.

Wait a minute. Except for normal growth, the budget hasn't changed, the cost of tree trimming hasn't changed, and the trees haven't changed. The only thing that has changed is the man in charge of deciding whether to cut or trim - the Urban Forester. That man is now Mike Perkins, who was only hired as head forester on an interim basis.