Resident wants a sycamore removed

I have been reading the article about the removal of sycamore trees from the parkways on Indian Hills Drive in Simi Valley. From the information obtained in The Acorn, it appears that the city of Simi Valley has funds and resources to remove 32 mature sycamores on Indian Hills, but they are only going to remove six due to public outcry.

I have been attempting to the get the city to remove one mature sycamore on my parkway for nearly 10 years for the same reasons that they are attempting to remove them on Indian Hills Drive: sidewalk damage and safety issues.

I live directly across the street from an elementary school and there are children walking up and down the sidewalk every day. I, as well as some friends, have nearly tripped on the sidewalk in front of my home.

Every attempt over the last 10 years has been met with the same response from the city: "We'll check it out." Then nothing is done except to come and attempt to repair the sidewalk. The roots of this particular tree are growing over the sidewalk and, as far as I'm concerned, this is a safety hazard.

I made another attempt to get the city to commit to removing this tree this morning. I was again met with the wellrehearsed answer, "We'll look into it."

In my opinion, the city is attempting to remove the trees along Indian Hills Drive because the neighborhood is newer and more expensive than mine.

It seems to me, if they have the funds available to remove 32 trees and are only going to be removing six, they could divert those resources to remove one that I have been complaining about for nearly 10 years.

At this point, I'm beginning to think that my mother was wrong. It's not the "squeaky wheel that gets the grease," it's the one with the most money.

I have been a resident and a taxpayer of Simi Valley for nearly 30 years and every attempt to have this one lowly tree moved has fallen on deaf ears. Guess I just don't live in the right neighborhood.

Oh, lest I forget, the city has told me that I can have the tree removed, at my expense, provided I use their approved contractor and pay for the permit, etc. Sorry, but I don't have the $1,200 to $2,400 to have this tree removed. The city, however, does and refuses to remove it. Why am I paying taxes?

I am asking again that the city of Simi Valley divert funds that they will not be using to remove 26 trees along Indian Hills Drive to remove one tree I have been asking to have removed for nearly 10 years. Jeri Cyr Simi Valley