In 2023, Seattle City Council waded into controversy by passing a long overdue tree protection ordinance. The law regulates whether homeowners can remove trees on their property and designates certain trees as “protected.” 

This is all amidst a city goal to increase tree canopy. But that “protected” label is often misleading, according to a new story out in InvestigateWest about how the city is counting its trees. 

Guest: 

Robert McClure, co-founder of InvestigateWest

Relevant Links:

InvestigateWest: Seattle claims to ‘protect’ hundreds of trees that were never threatened

InvestigateWest: How developers helped shape Seattle’s controversial tree protection ordinance

 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

In 2023, Seattle City Council waded into controversy by passing a long overdue tree protection ordinance.&nbsp;The law regulates whether homeowners can remove trees on their property and designates certain trees as &ldquo;protected.&rdquo;&nbsp;
This is all amidst a city goal to increase tree canopy. But that &ldquo;protected&rdquo; label is often misleading, according to a new story out in InvestigateWest about how the city is counting its trees.&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;
Robert McClure, co-founder of InvestigateWest
Relevant Links:
InvestigateWest: <a href="https://www.investigatewest.org/investigatewest-reports/seattle-claims-to-protect-hundreds-of-trees-that-were-never-threatened-17788015">Seattle claims to &lsquo;protect&rsquo; hundreds of trees that were never threatened</a>
InvestigateWest: <a href="https://www.investigatewest.org/news/how-developers-helped-shape-seattles-controversial-tree-protection-ordinance-17691274">How developers helped shape Seattle&rsquo;s controversial tree protection ordinance</a>
&nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Seattle said its tree ordinance would protect 100,000 trees. But, as InvestigateWest's Robert McClure explains, that “protected” label is often misleading.

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