Saying goodbye

Pacific Grove CA

Description

At a time when we seem to be losing so many of our rights in this country, it was especially hard to watch the unnecessary drama regarding the 100-year-old elm tree in Pacific Grove’s Jewell Park. With police everywhere, and city officials chuckling, the old tree was brought to its knees and ground up on Friday morning. The sadness I felt was not just for the tree, but also for the people around here who put so much time and money into trying to save that lovely tree, where birds and squirrels were regular visitors. These were not wealthy people with second and third homes, but just locals who’ve lived here a long time. People who aren’t listened to in a community being bought up by the wealthy. When they lost their court case to save the tree, a day before the city and Tope’s Tree Service ground it up, two women in particular were devastated. One who lives just feet away from the tree was tearing up as she spoke. For weeks these tree ladies poured everything they had into this effort to save one tree. But it never had a chance under our current city government, devoted to developers who are slowly changing America’s Last Hometown into just another city for the very rich. On Friday afternoon I was checking out a noise on Forest Avenue, where a beautiful old house was being gutted for more wealthy people needing yet another house. I spoke with two ladies walking their dogs. They’ve lived here many years. Both were very unhappy with what happened up the street, with the tree, and what was happening at the old house. They said it might be time to replace our city government with people who still care about the residents who’ve lived and worked here for a long, long time. I think they may be right.