Thanks to Miami-Dade County's tree protection ordinance being weakened by the county commissioners, presumably to please developers, this tree destruction was probably legal because the trees are a non-native species to the area. Of course, all the ugly concrete that has been erected in the county must be native and thus protected, but if it's green, pretty and provides shade and nesting areas for birds it can't be protected if it's non-native.

These destroyed trees were Black Olive trees, a shade tree with rapid growth and they've been planted in abundance all over South Florida. Regardless of protected status, these Black Olives were attractive, especially next to the concrete parking garage that is now fully exposed in all its glory to tens of thousands of car occupants heading south on the Palmetto Expressway. Due to their location so close to W. 20th Avenue, I suspect they were growing on the public swale area and not hotel property, which leads one to wonder as to who paid for the trees originally? The previous hotel or the public?

Perhaps the county commissioners should rethink their position on the county's tree protection ordinance because a community with mature trees of any type is far more attractive to visitors and residents than a community with all the ugly concrete and development exposed everywhere. Perhaps the City of Hialeah Gardens should enact their own tree protection ordinance to make their city more aesthetically pleasing?