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Residents urge urgent response as sycamore trees decline on East Michigan Avenue
Summary
Neighborhood speakers told the council their sycamore trees and a celebrated tree canopy on East Michigan Avenue are sick and requested prompt, creative city action including treatment or grant-supported programs.
Residents from East Michigan Avenue asked the city council for urgent help after describing a longtime street canopy in decline.
"Our trees are very sick," said Sarah Malik, who said she spoke for her neighborhood. She asked the council for three things: city support and creativity for treatments, urgency in response and a scientific approach that avoids letting "perfect be the enemy of good."
Byron Little, who said he has lived on Michigan Avenue for more than 70 years, told the council the trees around the city are "showing signs of stress" and warned, "They will die if we don't treat them." He and other speakers said they had been in contact with urban forestry staff but sought more concrete treatment plans.
Speakers asked the council to consider grant programs, public-private partnerships and other treatments to restore the canopy and to prioritize timely action while staff completes cost-benefit analysis. The transcript records neighborhood outreach to city departments but does not record a formal council directive or a staff commitment to a specific treatment during the meeting.
