Seattle counted trees as protected that may not have been in peril

In 2023, Seattle City Council waded into controversy by passing a long overdue tree protection ordinance. The law regulates whether homeowners can remove trees on their property and designates certain trees as “protected.”  This is all amidst a city goal to increase tree canopy. But that “protected” label is often misleading, according to a new story out in InvestigateWest about how the city is counting its trees.  Guest:  Robert McClure, co-founder of InvestigateWest Relevant Links: InvestigateWest: Seattle claims to ‘protect’ hundreds of trees that were never threatened InvestigateWest: How developers helped shape Seattle’s controversial tree protection ordinance   Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.