It is time to restore respect to Mariposa. I am learning more and more that I am not alone when it comes to Asplundh employees and their disrespect toward land owners. To come home and find my front yard full of "polka dots" from spray paint is infuriating. Especially when every dot is facing the house, and the view from the bay window displays their graffiti for months. Not to mention the tree with one or two limbs left on one side, or the gorgeous pine that was not in the "trim zone" and left untouched for years that is now hacked off ten feet from the ground. Or the property damage left behind from their huge trucks and piles of shredded trees left as "free mulch" to spread pine bore beetles and invite termite infestation. Free mulch is not an environmentally responsible alternative to treated pine bark. But it's cheaper to dump than to dispose of properly.

My complaint is not about maintenance of power lines or prevention of incidental fire or power outages. It's the unclear policy that changes from truck to truck on how much is "enough" to cut, the same tree being whittled away every year until it's an unsightly twig. My complaint is about the disrespectful personnel and being left with a mess to clean up after they are gone. And their trespass onto private property unannounced when I'm not home, only to come home to a damaged gate, ruts in the yard and driveway where they got stuck and used four wheel drive to spin out in the rain. My complaint is about the "convict" mentality and confrontational attitude, spouting off about "RULE 16" that Asplunde employees obviously think gives them the right to do whatever they want, anywhere on my private property. My complaint is about the two-inch pine grenades left in the grass to be thrown through the house windows by the teenager I hired to mow my yard. As with most things in life, the few ruin it for the many. I am certain there are Asplunde employees who attempt to do their job with respect, courtesy and limited impact. I just haven't met any.

It's time for a change. It is time for Asplundh employees to respect our property, our mountains and to be held accountable when they destroy private property. It's time for the intimidation to stop when the Sheriff’s Office is called with fantasy threat complaints when you tell them to leave. It's time to put an end to the disrespect. Asplundh will only continue to recycle personnel with a "burn you out" mentality leaving land owners feeling like they have no recourse to constantly changing rules left to the imagination of the truck driver of the day.

It's time PG&E sent the message that they are going to stand with their consumers and mandate that the harassment and unprofessional action by their maintenance contractor cease immediately. PG&E should hold them as accountable as they hold their consumer when they don't pay the electric bill. The "hired gun" mentality needs to stop. There are professional tree cutters out there who understand the issues and can maintain line ways without making homeowner’s blood boil by their contempt and disrespect!

If you have had similar problems with Asplundh, I would like to hear from you. Contact me at BerlinWall07@gmail.com. Use "Asplundh" in the subject line. Please ensure your name and contact information is provided. This will not stop until property owners stand up for their rights. It's time to restore the pride of land ownership and put to bed the constant anxiety of what we're going to find when we come home after Asplundh has been there.
Steven M. Kuryla
Chief Warrant Officer (Retired)
U.S. Army Intelligence