Help City Forester Leslie Keedy after CZU Fire

Leslie Keedy, the city forester for the City of Santa Cruz, recently lost her home near Big Basin to the CZU Lightening Complex Fire.  There had been a lightning strike on a nearby tree the night of the lightening storm.  However, the real damage came a few nights later when the Big Basin fire roared over the ridge.  With only 10 minutes to pack up, Leslie left with just  her dogs and the few things she could grab.  She  barely made it  out alive.  Her house, which she had just spent her savings on to a remodel on, was burned to the ground along with all of her possessions,  tools, vehicles, landscaping.  Gone.

For over 20 years, Leslie, a trained arborist,  has tirelessly served the City of Santa Cruz, tending to the urban canopy and heritage trees as well as a advocate for fire wise planning with the City Planning, Parks and Recreation, the Fire Marshall, PG & E, and community groups.  

I am one of the founders of Coyote Crossing Cohousing on the westside of Santa Cruz.  When we first approached Leslie about eucalyptus trees that were near the houses and our concern for fall and fire risk, she worked with me to get permits for removal and also a strategy for replacing them with a local redwood varietal and a erosion mitigation plan. (We have since planted an entire grove - thanks Leslie!)  Her knowledge base, commitment, work ethic, ability to balance urban canopy, heritage trees, fire prevention, response to natural disasters, were impressive then as now.

So many of us in this community have had the privilege to work with Leslie over the years.  When I found out she had lost everything in the fire, I reached out to see if there was anything I could do.  Always fiercely independent, resourceful, (my term - a badass), she is unaccustomed to asking for help.  Leslie had recently also been on medical leave after a fall, so had little reserve to work with and no nearby family to rely on.

This fundraiser is to help her be able to buy essentials (clothes, household items, and tools) to be able to weather the displacement and remain on the job to serve the City of Santa Cruz.  While she did have some insurance - it will not begin to replace all that was lost to the flames.

While Leslie has been busy with her job and dealing with the myriad details with the insurance and disaster assistance, she has been touched, and a little overwhelmed by the upwelling of support, including financial support.  I have been in text contact with her most days (also trying not to be a burden) and we will meet weekly for me to hand off a check of the 100% of the $$ raised here from her friends and supporters.  For right now, that means buying things a microwave, replacement vehicle, tools, boots and clothes for work.  

Please donate whatever you can to help Leslie rebuild her forest sanctuary in the Santa Cruz mountains as soon as they let her back.