And a public good. They keep things cooler when it's really hot out, keep things warmer when it's really cool out, mildly improve air quality, reduces noise pollution, provide measurable mental health benefits, and so on.
Around here removing big trees is illegal, on your property or not. I'm a fan.
Open soil instead of pavement also helps reduce flooding during heavy rainfall since the ground absorbs water instead of just making it run off to somewhere else.
To keep the grass from dying. Many trees (nothing like that in these pictures) can drop a huge quantity of leaves that are quite effective—both physically and chemically—at killing off surrounding grass, even out from under the shade of the canopy. Leaves can make great vegetable garden compost. But in huge quantities they are not kind to grass.
Considering they also took out the shrubs I’m betting not, though that tree closest to the house the roots may have been affecting the foundation I guess.