Article 23 Statement Mothers Out Front

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Mothers Out Front, Arlington, letter of support for Article 23 Substitute Motion by Robin

Bergman and Jennifer Cutraro

April 15, 2026

We (Mothers Out Front, Arlington) are a group of mothers and other caregivers working together

to ensure a livable climate for all children – today and into the future. Maintaining and expanding

our urban tree canopy is a vital investment in our children’s health. Therefore we support Article

23 Substitute Motion by Robin Bergman and Jennifer Cutraro to amend Article 16 in Arlington’s

bylaws.

Trees are critical infrastructure for Arlington’s climate resilience. They sink carbon, provide

increasingly important shade as the planet warms, and intercept stormwater. Analysis of town

data shows that between 2023 and 2025 for 71 properties surveyed, only 14% of trees on

protected parts of properties were removed during construction compared to 80% of trees on

unprotected parts of properties.* This data shows that our town bylaws are effective, and we

must do much more to preserve more trees and increase our climate resilience. Article 23

Substitute Motion by Robin Bergman and Jennifer Cutraro is one step we can take this year to

ensure fewer mature trees are removed as Arlington continues to develop** and grow.

*Research prepared By Linda Cundiff, TMM Pct 15.

**We acknowledge the importance of increasing Arlington’s affordable, public-transit-accessible

housing supply. Article 23 Substitute Motion would not halt development; rather, it encourages

more thoughtful planning that prioritizes preserving mature trees or, when removal is

unavoidable, investing in replacement canopy as an alternative.

Submitted by Robin L Bergman, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 12