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Editor: 

In the Jan. 17 article on tree hazards, Mr. Jerry Koch, forestry supervisor for the City of Berkeley is quoted as inferring “I try to tell people what trees to plant on their own property,” which is not true. 

I do believe that citizens should be fully informed on the long-term problems with different trees and that the city should take a very active part in such decisions by distributing basic material describing those problems. I feel city staff is doing a poor job in many ways with trees. We should not have tall trees in the city for all kinds of reasons. 

In my own ways I am trying to educate people about the problems of those tall trees. I will be putting a packet of material on trees in local libraries for people to examine at their convenience. 

I am proud to say I was the instigator of the Berkeley City Manager’s Directive in 1967 that local reports of all sorts should be filed in libraries for ease of access by the public. I urge the citizens of Berkeley to ask librarians for any local reports they would like to see. 

Charlie Smith 

Berkeley