A Goldman Sachs power couple is locked in a legal battle with Martha’s Vineyard officials after cutting down 19 protected trees on their Edgartown property. John Waldron, the No. 2 executive at the investment bank, and his wife Amanda cleared mature cedars and pines last spring to improve the view from their $32 million summer home. Local officials discovered the violation in August 2025 and ordered a restoration plan, but the Waldrons submitted an incomplete plan in early 2026 and then escalated the matter to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
The DEP approved their restoration plan earlier in July 2026, but did not cancel the town’s enforcement order. On Monday, July 20, the Waldrons filed a partial appeal arguing that Edgartown lost jurisdiction due to delays in its review process. The couple also owns a Central Park West apartment purchased for nearly $9 million in 2008, adding to the narrative of wealthy outsiders flouting local rules.
This story is stirring outrage among locals and environmental advocates alike. It raises questions about property rights, environmental protection, and whether billionaires should be able to use legal muscle to get what they want. What do you think should happen to those trees? Should the Waldrons be forced to restore them?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.