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A Somerville Tree Saga: Redefining Private Property (Barf)
Boston.com ^ | 01/20/2014 | Patrick Smith

Posted on 01/21/2014 1:42:02 PM PST by Responsibility2nd

Time out.

This time around, I don't want to talk about airlines, airports or airplanes.

I want to talk about trees.

That's right, trees. Specifically, I want to talk about the decision made by a Somerville neighbor of mine to fell an old, beautiful, and perfectly healthy tree because it was "in the way" of his backyard improvement project -- in the process adversely affecting the quality of life for me and several of my neighbors.

Is it crazy or un-American to suggest that, at a certain point, a tree is no longer one person's private property per se, and belongs to the community? And at that point, should the property owner be restricted as to what he or she may do with said tree?

I first started asking these questions seven or eight years ago...

~snip~

So, ultimately this is a debate about private property. But what is private property?

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: privateproperty; trees
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In a nutshell (pun intended). Some mass-hole obsesses over neighbors cutting down their own trees. Wants to redefine private property.
1 posted on 01/21/2014 1:42:02 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
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To: Responsibility2nd
"in the process adversely affecting the quality of life for me and several of my neighbors. "

This guy needs to move to a place with larger lots/fields.

2 posted on 01/21/2014 1:43:26 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Responsibility2nd

Buy a portable sawmill and offer to cut it up for free....


3 posted on 01/21/2014 1:44:19 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2

I live in Shoreline, just north of Seattle, where we can still cut down our own trees.

But in Seattle proper, about ten years ago the city made it illegal for property owners to cut down their own trees without permission.

Actually, where I live and where the neighbors behind me have some view over my property to Puget Sound, they would be ecstatic if I cut down all my trees. Probably believe that they should have the right to cut down all my trees.


4 posted on 01/21/2014 1:48:44 PM PST by angry elephant (Endangered species in Seattle)
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To: Paladin2

His property, his tree. Butt out.
(Go plant one of your own.


5 posted on 01/21/2014 1:49:21 PM PST by William of Barsoom (In Omnia, Paratus)
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To: Responsibility2nd

They probably want the trees to be “community property” as long as they are healthy and provide nice shade. But as soon as the trees drop a branch or two, they will go back to being “private property”. Life in the mind of a liberal. What’s yours is ours until it is a problem, then it is yours again AND I still have the right to tell you what to do with it.


6 posted on 01/21/2014 1:50:58 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: Responsibility2nd

Waah waah wahh. I live here and should have a say in what everyone does on their private property. Why don’t you just plant your own trees? Or are they too messy and attract squirrels? You don’t own their ;and and until you do they can do what they want. Maybe they were offended with your Obama lawn sign in 2008 and 2012. Did they make you take it down, NO, they were polite and just let it be. They figured if you wanted to display your stupidity to the world on your property it is your business.If you don’t like it MOVE! Don’t make people change for you.


7 posted on 01/21/2014 1:52:33 PM PST by shoff (Vote Democratic it beats thinking!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Before anyone clicks on the link, picture the “type”.

SPOT ON including the glasses and homosexuality.


8 posted on 01/21/2014 1:55:50 PM PST by icwhatudo (Low taxes and less spending in Sodom and Gomorrah is not my idea of a conservative victory)
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To: NEMDF

This masshole has even more stupid than initially thought. He added to this pitiful screed “Comments to this story seem to be harping on the fact that I’m a renter and not an owner; that neither property involved in this story belongs to me. I fail to see how or why that matters in the greater context of my argument. It feels to me like a loophole-ish way of invalidating my points. - PS”
0-0-0-0
Oy vey....


9 posted on 01/21/2014 1:57:21 PM PST by major-pelham
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To: Responsibility2nd

I certainly hope he is not pontificating from his neighboring house made out of **wood.**


10 posted on 01/21/2014 2:00:24 PM PST by getitright (If you call this HOPE, can we give despair a shot?)
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To: angry elephant

The rules are the same here (Victoria B.C.). In recent years, there have been several instances of illegal tree cutting, and tree-poisoning (on other people’s property) by view-seeking neighbours. Having a clear view of the ocean adds tens of thousands of dollars to the property value. Perhaps your neighbours would make you an offer.


11 posted on 01/21/2014 2:01:48 PM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: Responsibility2nd
Where I lived in California we had to get a permit to cut down a tree. We had to get a permit to even just prune a tree (lest you prune too vigorously). I moved to Tennessee and got 22 acres way out in the middle of nowhere. Told my grandson that now anytime we want we can chop down a tree just to hear it fall.

In California my neighbor had a big tree that blocked my view of the water. His property, his tree, but I sure wished it was gone, then within a year it died and he cut it down. Prayer works.

12 posted on 01/21/2014 2:02:04 PM PST by Teotwawki (For a person to get a thing without paying for it, another must pay for it without getting it.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Is it crazy or un-American to suggest that, at a certain point, a tree is no longer one person's private property per se, and belongs to the community? And at that point, should the property owner be restricted as to what he or she may do with said tree?

Short answer:

Yes, Patrick you ignorant slut, it is crazy or un-American...

(with props to Dan Aykroyd).

13 posted on 01/21/2014 2:02:10 PM PST by Zeppo ("Happy Pony is on - and I'm NOT missing Happy Pony")
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To: Responsibility2nd

Is it crazy or un-American to suggest that, at a certain point, a tree is no longer one person’s private property per se, and belongs to the community?

Yes, it is.

And at that point, should the property owner be restricted as to what he or she may do with said tree?

If you restrict someone’s use of their property, you owe them recompense. So, if you loved that tree on HIS PROPERTY so much, and want him to keep it, PAY HIM.


14 posted on 01/21/2014 2:06:34 PM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

Larry Ellison poisoned a neighbors trees a few years ago for the view. Also, Dan Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, got a ‘special’ permit to cut down trees that were on Park property so he could get a better view of the Potomac River.


15 posted on 01/21/2014 2:07:09 PM PST by Theoria (End Socialism : No more GOP and Dem candidates)
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To: Responsibility2nd
The author mentions that the property he rents has an ugly garage. How would he react if his neighbor decided that the garage has to go?

For the good of the 'hood and all.

16 posted on 01/21/2014 2:08:05 PM PST by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Gone Galt, 11/07/12----No king but Christ! Don't tread on me!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

I know my HOA don’t want me to do things with my yard, but I knew it when we bought the house. If I didn’t have a HOA and my neighbor wants to cut down a tree, it is not my property. He (my neighbor) is conservative, too.


17 posted on 01/21/2014 2:12:25 PM PST by ExCTCitizen (2014theyearofdeadRINOs)
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To: Wyrd bið ful aræd

If I were the author’s neighbor,I’d be working on plans to get him gone.


18 posted on 01/21/2014 2:12:25 PM PST by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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To: Wyrd bið ful aræd
My neighbors (or whoever owned their place a while ago) planted large fast growing evergreens all along the property line. Now these trees hang over not just my property line, but my roof, clogging my gutters and making a swath of my yard unable to grow anything.

I've been told I can have them pruned on my side, but can't really imagine how that would work out well for the trees. I talked to the neighbor about going in on pruning (which would be somewhat expensive) and he was willing to talk, but then he sold the place, the new people living there are renters and I've not been able to talk to the owner.

Trees are just frustrating sometimes, but that's life.

19 posted on 01/21/2014 2:14:56 PM PST by Jack Black ( Disarmament of a targeted group is one of the surest early warning signs of future genocide.)
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To: Paladin2

[ “in the process adversely affecting the quality of life for me and several of my neighbors. “

This guy needs to move to a place with larger lots/fields. ]

Or he needs his own Ox gored....


20 posted on 01/21/2014 2:15:19 PM PST by GraceG
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