ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 13, 1997 TAG: 9701130091
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
I think that I shall never see a JLARC study lovely as a tree - with apologies to Joyce Kilmer.
GOV. GEORGE Allen says the Joint Legislative and Review Commission reports criticizing his environmental stewardship are political hooey. But at least he's come down on the side of the angels - and the squirrels and the pigeons at Capital Square - in protesting unnecessary demolition of trees in his own front yard.
After all, the capital grounds are a public park - a beautiful, shady respite in downtown Richmond that's meant for the public's enjoyment, not for clearcutting.
The state's groundskeepers might argue that a 40-foot tree on the grounds was chopped down for the public's enjoyment, since it was decorated to adorn the State Capitol for the Christmas holidays.
But there's no shortage of evergreens growing in the wild in Virginia. And if it was too much trouble for them to drive to, say, Powhatan County to find one, surely there's no shortage of shopping centers in Richmond that would have been happy to sell the state a plastic Christmas tree.
Allen, it also should be noted, successfully intervened to save some magnolia trees from the chainsaws in 1994 when groundskeepers planned to remove them to provide a better view of Allen's inauguration on the capital grounds.
He was less successful in saving a plant, given to him when his father died, that he brought with him to the governor's mansion. He bitterly complained that the mansion's staff apparently ``thought it was dead or unattractive and just threw it out.''
Well, let that be a lesson for the next governor. Upon entering office, he should issue an executive order forbidding all acts of horticulturecide for the duration of his term. In addition, he should not forget to water his plants.
LENGTH: Short : 42 linesby CNB