I am perplexed and astonished at how out of touch with homeowners the current Oak Park Board of Trustees feels. To presume that a significant withdrawal of services would be accepted (with no commensurate reduction in taxes) seemed so unlikely weeks ago that I paid little attention to the discussion of leaf removal.
As a senior resident, this impacts me in so many negative ways: It is not possible for me to do the required work, therefore I must hire to have it done. My lawncare provider of 20 years works alone. He could not physically do this service without hiring a crew. This would be a significant expense to him, and thus to me, and his many other customers.
As someone with a mobility challenge, the option to leave the leaves on the ground is not only unsightly but more importantly, unsafe. The dropped leaves of my lovely oak tree become slick like leather when wet. Without removing them, it would be unsafe for me to go to my garage, recycling bin or neighbor’s home. Removal would have to be done daily as the leaves blow across our yards.
And this ignores the cost of bags. What are they thinking?
I loved the letter to the editor suggesting that this board remember Bilandic. There are big philosophical issues, and then there are the basics. Leaf collection from village streets is certainly the latter.
Reverse this ill-considered decision!
Marjorie Greenwald
Oak Park