From Jun. 29, 2022:

In a joint statement, Commissioners Carmen Rubio and Mingus Mapps, who oversee Parks & Recreation and the Bureau of Environmental Services respectively, said the move was meant to streamline what had been a disjointed system.

The two bureaus “have been working together to strategically align disparate tree planting and tree care responsibilities across both bureaus. That fragmentation has led to inefficient and uncoordinated work,” the commissioners said.

“With support and direction from both of our offices, both bureaus have come to an understanding and scoping of work that we believe will not only be more effective, but will ultimately result in more trees, larger tree canopy, and increased greening of our city,” they said.

…in case we wanted someone to point fingers at.

The other notable difference is that the Friends of Trees program was opt-in. You want a tree, you contact them, they bring you a tree. The city program is actually opt-out, and only eligible in certain designated neighborhoods. So you miss a postcard in the mail and the next thing you know, you’ve got a crew in front of your house digging up your yard.