Maurie Richie said the tree outside his Northwest Side home is damaged.
He worries it could fall and injure a person or animal. Because it is located on City of Chicago property, Richie has repeatedly asked the city to trim the broken and dying limbs.
But those requests have been ignored.
“We just had the two-year anniversary of the outstanding tree trimming request, which is unfortunate,” he said.
Frustrated by the city’s lack of response, he recently contacted WGN Investigates.
“I’m hoping and praying that this will shed some light on the broken process,” Richie said.
It may sound like a simple problem with a simple solution. But the city has changed how it handles tree trimming requests.
It now works on a so-called grid system, meaning it focuses on trimming trees in a particular area, versus responding only to individual requests.
The city claims the new system is more efficient and equitable, allowing it to service trees citywide.
“Every tree in the city of Chicago, every five years is going to get trimmed and be able to be brought down where it needs to,” said Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th).
In a statement, a city spokeswoman said crews have trimmed more than 22,000 trees in a recent three-month span. It’s an example, she said, of how the new system is “improving the overall efficiency of service delivery and allowing for proper maintenance” of city trees.
Meanwhile, Richie’s wait goes on.
“I don’t know who to believe anymore—at the end of the day this is a safety issue,” he said.