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The Politics of Trees - The Battle Between Canopy and Concrete

Everyone loves trees — so why do so many of our local cities keep cutting them down?

Despite decades of ordinances and pledges to protect them, trees are routinely lost to development, road widening, power lines and city maintenance projects. The Politics of Trees digs into the contradictions at the heart of Kansas City’s relationship with its canopy. 

The on-air premiere of The Politics of Trees will be followed by a town hall discussion, Week in Review Extra: Talking Trees, moderated by Kansas City PBS' Nick Haines and featuring a conversation with filmmaker Michael Price and expert guests as well as audience questions.

Premiering Thursday, April 23

The Politics of Trees documentary airs at 7 p.m. on Channel 19.1, followed by a town hall discussion, Week in Review Extra: Talking Trees, at 7:30 p.m.

Made possible with support from The William T. Kemper Family Foundation

The Politics of Trees Preview

In the battle between concrete and canopy, what kind of city do we really want to grow?

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Meet the Filmmaker

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Michael Price

Michael Price studied law at Oxford University and has a master’s degree in radio from Goldsmiths, University of London. He is a former producer with the BBC’s national flagship current affairs program Panorama, working out of London and Belfast.

In 2013, he started the production company English Landing Films. His investigative documentaries have won five regional Emmys, and his 2016 film Our Divided City won a national NETA prize for the best documentary on PBS.

He currently lives in the Kansas City area with his wife, and he teaches media and videography at Johnson County Community College, Kansas.

Also From Michael Price

A Tale of Three Cities
A Tale of Three Cities
26:46
Published:

Filmmaker Michael Price explores three Midwestern cities in search of solutions to violent crime.

More Films From Michael Price
1 / 4 Videos
A Tale of Three Cities
A Tale of Three Cities
A Tale of Three Cities
How Should We Care?
Age-Old Questions: A Revealing Look at the State of Aging
How Should We Care?
Our Divided City
Our Divided City
Our Divided City
The Gun Conundrum
Gun Conundrum
The Gun Conundrum
More Shows from Kansas City PBS
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  • The Invisible Army Caregivers in KC
  • Winning the War
  • Nichols Folly, A Century of the Country Club Plaza, plaza fountain
  • Womontown
  • Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations, art car, Salvation Mountain
  • The Potato King
  • AIDS in KC
  • We Are Latinos, Discovering the Latino Community of Kansas City, portion of mural
  • Get Lost!
  • A Tale of Three Cities
  • Art House, KC Conversations About the Art of Film, image of old projector
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