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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10 MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted Feb. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Eulogy to a honey locust The recent MT article about the felling of the majestic locust tree on B Street in Ashland would have benefited by inclusion of the following: The tree was a honey locust, not a black locust as reported. The difference is relevant because, unlike black locusts, honey locusts make exquisite street trees. Although it was called a hazard by an arborist, it would be hard for an arborist to say otherwise about any large tree near people or property, since if it should fall, even if healthy, the arborist could be liable. This dynamic is at odds with maintaining our urban trees. The most likely cause of ill health in this tree could be traced to 15 or more years ago when roots uplifting the sidewalk were cut away. Alternatives exist to this approach, as was recently demonstrated when sidewalks were replaced at Ashland’s Triangle Park. Big trees need space to grow. The felled honey locust was approximately 3 feet in diameter in a 6-foot-wide park row — insufficient space. To have large urban trees in our future, we either need to plan for wider park rows or plant trees behind the sidewalks where there is room for root growth. Rick Landt Ashland A poor excuse Congressman Walden's recent behavior challenges his title as representative. In December the Mail Tribune chastised Walden for his "legislative non-starter" that was "dead on arrival" in the Klamath Basin water negotiations, asserting he was at "the beck and call of ultra-conservatives in Klamath County." Follow that with Walden's recent MT opinion piece taken from his obtuse ramblings in a January House floor speech, where he casually allows that the Malheur Wildlife Refuge is public land, while defending the rationale of the Bundy seditionists. He rails against land management agencies and their arrogance, asserting the government has gone too far. But Walden is the one who has gone too far. It is bad enough 2nd District constituents have to suffer his petulant congressional rants and condescension (the Washington D.C . resident lecturing others on "understanding rural Oregon"). But Walden excuses his "friends" the Hammonds' arson on public land (these are good people and others did it!) and whines about how their punishment is disproportionate to the severity of the crime. Yet numerous citizens have been sentenced under the 1996 mandatory minimums. Apparently, Walden expresses concern only when his friends and donors are impacted. Greg Walden is a poor excuse for a representative. Derek Volkart Talent Tail-gunner Ted? During the Iowa caucuses I saw a ghost — the same evil little smile, the dirty tactics, the lies, the mannerisms — Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Turns out it was really Ted Cruz. I'm betting I wasn't the only one who thought they saw "Tail-gunner Joe." Jean Strong Medford Phone menu frustration I recently switched banking companies. This involved contacting 15 different entities to provide them with new routing and account number information. Performing this onerous task by phone where possible led me to a simple conclusion. Rolling a die to determine the number to press when the robot drones out the menu of options from which to select is perhaps more reliable than attempting to reason out the correct category. Arnold Wallender Medford MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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