Letter: Put public safety over tree protection

David Lauderdale is great proponent for our community and our way of life. The opinions expressed in his Dec. 2 column (“No, do not level the trees of Beaufort County”) are, however, as wet as an overlooked spaghetti noodle.

Exactly what is more important, the safety of our citizens, their loved ones and their property, or wild growth, originally conceived as fodder for future harvest? Yes, the trees are beautiful, but they are also a hazard to our property and the lives of our citizens.

Lauderdale has not thoroughly thought this out before speaking. We’re talking about trees vs. our homes and, yes, even citizens’ lives. Get real, David. Think this thing out thoroughly before you make these public statements.

We are most thankful that lives were not lost as a result of a wind-uprooted pine crushing an occupied bedroom. These things must go. Our citizens’ health, safety and investments must come first. No question about that.

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 7:51 AM with the headline "Letter: Put public safety over tree protection."