Councilor McHugh proposes ban on cottonwood trees

As if the real problems in the city of Oshkosh and the complaints about some councilors who want to micromanage every aspect of City Hall weren’t enough for the Oshkosh Common Council to worry about, now comes councilor Dennis McHugh with a proposed ordinance to ban the new planting of cottonwood trees.

According to this story in the Oshkosh Northwestern McHugh’s ordinance stems from “a citizen’s complaint and his (McHugh’s) own experience with cottonwood tree seeds blowing into his yard from a neighbor’s tree.” So while he was unmoved by the dozens of complaints about sidewalks being installed immediately on River Mill Road and he is quick to disregard traffic studies pointing out serious problems with a dangerous intersection that needs fixing, he IS willing to go out on a cottonwood tree limb by proposing silly legislation based on a single complaint and his own bad experience? His proposal gives new meaning, literally, to the “not in my backyard” mentality. And it's not just the backyard; he doesn’t want these trees planted in the front yard either. He just doesn’t want ‘em period because he finds them distasteful. How about those who like cottonwood trees, Mr. McHugh? Do their opinions count or will you disregard them as you do so much else that comes before you?

For a man who seems to want less government, this proposal would accomplish just the opposite. We can't properly enforce the regs already on the books, including a smoking ban ordinance; now he expects the city to enforce this, if passed? Give us a break. The common council needs to vote this proposal down. Two people complaining about cottonwood seeds is not a mandate for a city ordinance and it’s not what Mr. McHugh, or anyone else sitting on that dais, was elected to do.