EVERYONE TO BUY BOULAVARD TREES?

EVERYONE TO BUY BOULAVARD TREES?
Seems Rochester has picked a very bad time to try to implement a "spend money on extra items" ordinance. Don't get me wrong, I have stated this many times before, I am very supportive of the "Urban Forest".... whatever that is! I just think, like any land management project, perhaps a little for-thought should go into some of the ideas before they are implemented. For example, we are now in the process of removing our Ash trees so they don't get the emerald ash bore (see my previous post). Well, I guess an ash tree can't get diseased if it doesn't exist anymore! Do you remove your lungs so you don't get lung cancer?
The same problem is true with planting trees in the boulevards, think about it first. These ideas are all fine "theoretical" ideas, but they are not new ideas. These are ideas that have been discussed at universities and large communities before. But the problem is universities are a "theoretical world" and these ideas fall apart when they are implemented in a real world. Once you add the human element to it, the ideal plan crumbles. Sure it sounds like a fine plan that everyone could buy a tree or two and put it in front of their house. The whole city would look nice, we might even get the "Tree Capital" award again. But the human element is; most people do not want to be directed to do so, cannot afford to do it, or just don't care about trees like we do.
In today's economy many people are getting laid off of work, losing their jobs entirely and taking wage cuts. The cost of living is also going up at the same time adding more pressure on most household budgets. Now, remodeling and new building are supposed to add on the cost of boulevard trees. Not only is it a tree you have to buy, but a tree you have not right to prune or take care of. The city is the only authorize care-provider of this new acquisition you have purchased. Sounds a lot like the car my kid is driving. I pay for it and he drives it, what a deal huh? Sounds like a deal I want to jump in line for... NOT!