" Hmmm, this gives me an idea.. maybe the city should round up some of the various lunatics bouncing around downtown, outfit them with chainsaws, and let them loose on the urban forest? Cut down this tree, it was mocking me! Cut down that tree, I didn't want it to grow too high and reach the moon! And the city could then reap the huge windfall of wood wampam w/out having to hire a tree-cutting company! I smell a mayoral campaign promise a-comin.... "

" Those people that the city hires to "trim" the trees are the ones that should be charged. This company does nothing but hack the trees up, and they look horrible as a result. You should see the one in front of my house. "

" There are laws in the city limits for a reason. The land (that strip between the sidewalk and the road) is owned by the city, must likely for maintenance reasons. Just like in the country the village/city does own the land so many feet from the road. If the trees were in his yard, then it would be acceptable. "Girdling" the trees that he does not own is vandalism. The trees mentioned by james_13021 were on city property regardless of who planted them. It's sad to see them go but it's not the homeowners' decision whether the trees stay or not. "

" What an unbelievable waste of TIME and MONEY from the City of Auburn. The city goes around and pays a company (a couple hundred dollars, depending on the size of the tree of course) to cut trees down all around the city between the sidewalk and road without giving the homeowner any warning or notification. Several neighbors of mine had lost several very old and healthy trees planted by their grandparents. And City of Auburn, just turned up their noses at them. From photos alone, the wood from the trees was conservatively valued at over $15,000, and the company the took the trees down was getting paid on top it to remove them!!! And For CRYING OUT LOUD, when did killing tree become a FELONY??? Don't the Police have anything better to do than WASTE their time on this. This is insane on so many levels. Anyways, all the guy had to was call the city and they would have put the trees on their "List" to cut down, when they can "get around to it," of course. Lighten up, everyone. He was saving the city some loose pocket change anyhow, and now the City of Auburn is going to try and make a PROFIT of this guy and make him a FELONE at the same time. God job spending our TAX DOLLARS...that was sarcasm. Election year time, VOTE THEM OUT, and change those Laws!!! "