Citation for tree obscuring street sign

[olszowka.livejournal.com]

Today I received a citation because a tree in my yard is partially obscuring a street name sign. I've lived in Somerville for 25 years and never heard this was the responsibility of the home owner or heard of anyone receiving such a citation. I think the city is reaching into the depths of ordinances to find ways to raise money. If it's so important, why didn't any of the gazillions of emails I receive from the city mention it like they mention snow shoveling?

I've heard of other places which enforce such ordinances as a way to achieve public good--not to raise money. In such places, it is official policy that if you correct the problem and bring evidence to the hearing officer, the fine will be suspended.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Why is this the property owner's responsibility at all, rather than the city's?

[smammy]

Because in the US we are private property fetishists.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Likely because if the city decided to trim the offending foilage, the property owner would get their panties in a twist and accuse the city of destroying their revered bit of greenage.

[ron_newman]

Don't electric companies do this routinely when foliage gets too close to power lines?

[courtney (from livejournal.com)]

I have only seen this when the tree is on city sidewalks. Do they normally cut trees that are located on private property?

[crschmidt.livejournal.com]

When I was growing up in Illinois, the electric company definitely cut trees that were on our private property; I'm pretty sure they did the same thing with one of the places I was renting in Cambridge a few years back.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

No doubt you're right. But in general, either there is a policy you do the work yourself or a policy you pay taxes to the city so it can pay someone to do it; there's no free lunch.

[courtney (from livejournal.com)]

I'm guessing because the tree is located in olszowka's yard.