Update Monday Aug. 13th

Today, I meet with an attorney regarding dealing with Arizona Dept. of Transportation (also known as ADOT) about moving forward with strategies that will release certain documents that I am not at liberty to speak of at this moment. Our objective, is to set up a meeting with certain ADOT representatives who will sit with us to arrive at some viable options to avoid destroying some 60 trees at the Oak Creek /Tlaquepaque bridge area.

NOTE:

1) I would like EVERYONE to maintain a good focus on supporting a good solution to this problem, rather than to find fault or to buy into the negative emotions that can arise from this issue.

2) I would like all people who are doing such a wonderful job (we are in the thousands now) to be very clear on the issues at hand as noted below:

a) We have in our possession, the under oath, court documents by an ADOT representative, that there are somewhere around 60 trees that are slated for removal. NOTE: that this court document does NOT include ANY trees to the north of the bridge, in front of the New Age stores, or along the highway up to the 89A intersection.

b) Once again...be aware, that this issue with the trees does not ONLY involve those that are in the way of their proposed construction near the bridge. This tree count does NOT even include those that are on the NORTH side of the Oak Creek bridge, AND...the 60 count does NOT include those that are in the equipment staging area that is proposed to be located in front of the New Age stores. Those trees are subject to removal, and/or, are threatened due to the compaction over their root zones.

c) For your understanding about trees: "As above....so below." Whatever you see over your head in the way of tree branches, there is equal to that below you. If ANY roots are damaged, cut, destroyed in any way, the tree will become a Hat Rack over time.

d) AT RISK: are any or all, of the Sycamore trees along the Tlaquepaque decorative screen wall along the road due to the proposed pipe line to be installed along that wall. This digging has already begun in some areas and we have photos of this damage to the roots.

e) The large Arizona Cypress tree next to the Tlaquepaque wall is set for destruction.




Blessings to all,

Jim Law