Should we chop near MG?

[img=http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/8787/mg5oz.th.jpg]
The Governor of Miclian's Gate would like me to chop the two grassland tiles circled above and build cottages and roads in their place. For the first one we do, it will give MG a small sum of hammers and increase the food +1/pt, helping MG grow. It will also increase commerce +1 for now and growing in the future. It will hurt MG by -3 Hammers/pt. For the second cottage it will provide the same benefits but cost MG -5 Hammers/pt. Those hammers/pt will eventually be made up in around 33 turns due to the growth of the city. However, our citizens would lose lots of great forests for all of their recrational and health needs.

Choices:
Build Cottages on both tiles highlighted.
Build a Cottage on one of the highlighted tile. (At this time I think they are the same, but if you prefer one be chopped over the other, let me know why)
Build no Cottages on the highlighted tile.
Other
Abstain

This is not an official poll. I simply want to know how the citizen think and increase discussion before I make my decision. The poll closes in two days because the TC is before two days.

Relavent Threads:
MG Thread
MoI Thread
Chopping thread is a really old book I found in the back of the library. It was about to be thrown out.

If I may...
Chopping grasslands are very different than any other chops. Since a 2f grassland can sustain 1 citizen for food the tiles will consistently if not permanently be used. This would give Mic's Gate 3 grass tiles with cottages something the city desperately needs. 1f Plains just can't create the food necessary for Mic. Gate's food intake.

With the makeup of Mic's Gate production is not it's problem. Commerce and science output is. This would be rectified with chopping both grass forests. The other forests would be maintained. A few builds could be used with the chops. Worker, swordsman and lighthouse. IIRC the chop would be worth 60 shields.

I think chops are only 20 hammers until some tech, possibly math?

Yep, it was introduced with 1.61. Chops are only 20 hammers until we get Maths. I thought we had decided a long time ago that these tiles would be chopped at an appropriate point. I also obviously need to re-read our laws as I would have thought that it was the governor's responsibiltiy to decide what improvements were required to the tiles for his city.

I think other cities can produce commerce. MG is good for production. If you want to grow a bit, work that grassland forest ... and after the growth you'll have +1 hammer production.
If you really want to go for commerce build the lighthouse (then maybe also great lighthouse) and work the coast tiles.
Don't chop before Math.

Wait till math and then chop. We had started the chopping under the old patch, now that tactic needs to be rethought and delayed.

Whomp is right chopping 2 food tiles is a no-brainer, thats where cottages go. They support themselves and provide gold.

It's not a question over whether I want to chop the grassland or the plains, I just think we need to preserve our trees for future generations. However I didn't want my personal views to be forced on the entire civilization, that's why I wanted to get the imput of the citizens.