Posters Stapled to Trees

[qualitygig.livejournal.com]

I'm curious if anyone else has seen this in their neighborhood.  I live between Davis Square and Ball Square, and some _____ stapled posters to just about every other tree in the neighborhood advertising their new service (start-up).

You would think someone would know stapling posters to trees will at a minimum piss people off and might even consider it could be illegal (or why else wouldn't everyone be doing it).

What I'd like to know is a) has anyone else seen this and b) does anyone know for a FACT that stapling a poster to a tree (or utility pole) is illegal ?  My experience / recollection as a longtime Massachusetts resident is that it is, in fact, illegal, but I haven't been able to find any official website or source clarifying the point.

There's a second-half to the story that I'll share, but I'm interested in getting feedback on the above first.

Comments

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I found this: Somerville Tree Care Guidelines (http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/UFITreeCareGuidelines.pdf).
Nothing specific about stapling notices to trees, but it does talk about locking bikes to them.

[ron_newman]

Probably because the city's tree coordinator didn't think anyone living here would be stupid enough to staple things to trees.

What do you say we point him at this thread? His name and e-mail address are at the bottom of the document you linked to.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I also found this: Somerville's Urban Forest Initiative (http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space/urban-forest). Nothing specific on tree law, though.

I did think about emailing, but the address is "pintern2" which kind of sounds like a temp/intern email...so I'm digging around a bit first...

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Does the city really have a tree coordinator? Did they choose the color pattens when the knitters made tree sweaters?

[ron_newman]

I don't know much about yarnbombing, but I assume it can be done in a way that doesn't puncture or otherwise damage the tree.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

damage, no. humiliate, possibly!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

that's why they have a coordinator--to keep things tasteful and stylish

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Warden, not coordinator. Doesn't warden sound more...I don't know, powerful, somehow?

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I propose the position title be changed to "Tree Fashionista"

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

I am the Warden, I speak for the trees?

[cos]

My favorite comment in davis_square in a long time!

[ron_newman]

The document you linked to earlier mentioned an "Urban Forest Initiative Coordinator", which I abbreviated to "tree coordinator".