I am a resident of Coral Gables, Florida, living with a medically documented, life-threatening allergy to oak trees. Despite the serious health risk these trees pose to me, the City currently requires homeowners to pay significant fees, plant new trees, or contribute to a tree trust fund—even when a tree removal is clearly necessary for medical reasons.  Oak pollen is one of the most common tree pollens in the U.S., especially in the South and Southeast — including Florida.  Tree pollen allergy affects up to 30% of the U.S. population with oak pollen as one of the top 3 most allergenic tree pollens. 

This is unjust, unsafe, and a violation of basic health rights.

I respectfully ask the City of Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County to amend their tree protection ordinances to include:

- A medical exemption process for residents with verified health risks
- A waiver or reduction of permitting and mitigation fees in such cases
- Recognition of medical necessity as just cause for removing protected trees

No one should be forced to choose between personal health and environmental policy.

Let’s create a safer, more inclusive, and medically fair city for all.  An increasing number of people are moving to South Florida who were previously unaware of their allergies, so the time is critical!