Don't cut the urban forest
Copyright 2001
The San Francisco Chronicle
JUNE 26, 2001
EDITORIAL
WITH A proposed $5.2 billion city budget under consideration, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors should be able to find $1 million for two endangered tree-planting programs.
About 90,000 trees line San Francisco's streets. They soften and beautify the urban ambience, clean the air, absorb storm-water runoff and offer welcome shade on sunny days.
But, two nonprofit groups that plant and maintain trees on the streets will run out of city money by the end of this month. They fear the shortfall will mean no new street trees will be planted nor saplings nurtured.
Friends of the Urban Forest plants 2,000 trees a year and maintains another 7,500. It receives about $550,00 a year from the city.
Tree Corps, which employs former jail inmates, plants 800 trees a year and cares for 3,000 more. It receives $429,000 a year from the city, its total budget.
During budget hearings this week, the supervisors should look hard to find money for these two organizations.
Trees on city streets may not be the most urgent item on the agenda, but the supervisors should pay special attention to such worthy programs that beautify the streets and enrich the city's quality of life.