While New York City’s Parks Department continues planting more trees as part of former Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s MillionTreesNYC beautification project, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) objected to NYC’s motion to force newly planted trees on homeowners.
“I’m very much in favor of New York City’s beautification efforts, which will prove to be environmental and aesthetically beneficial,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind said. “Homeowners should have a right to refuse a tree planting in front of their home. Forcing homeowners against their will to adopt a tree is wrong.”
After receiving numerous calls from residents within the district voicing their objection to having a tree planted in front of their home, Hikind wrote a letter to Commissioner of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Mitchel Silver urging him to change NYC policy and allow homeowners the right of refusal.
“I love and support the planting of trees, however they require maintenance, which falls upon the property owner,” Hikind said. “Watering, the cleaning of falling leaves, tree limbs and debris as well as potential liability issues due to damaged and lifted sidewalks are now the responsibility of the homeowner. In addition, a planted tree may result in a narrowed sidewalk. The fact that people were not aware that trees were being planted until their sidewalk was marked and cut is simply wrong.”
Prior to the MillionTreesNYC program, trees were planted on a request basis with an option for the homeowner to decline a tree planting. Residents who wanted a tree were able to request a free planting, which was filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“This should continue to be the practice today, where we only plant trees for those who request them in front of their home,” Assemblyman Hikind said.
{Matzav.com}
I thought trees were outlawed in Brooklyn!
Sorry Dov, The sidewalk does not belong to the homeowner.
you may be right the sidewalk belongs to the city, but with that reasoning why should a homeowner have to clean up the leaves or any garbage on the sidewalk or even shovel the snow. The only place I agree the city should put up a tree is in front of illegal driveways.
I guess then they are not responsible for anything…falls debris etc.
The thing is, the city doesnt clean up around the tree and all the dirt end up there , making it look dirty and deceiving the purpose…..
So why is it that if someone falls on yourr property you can sue them.Which is it? Yours or the city’s?
True. But the tree will eventually lift the sidewalk, making it dangerous. If someone trips and falls, the homeowner is liable – not the City. Furthermore, the City will force the owner to repair the sidewalk.
Trees are nice, but can be very dangerous and costly to the homeowner.
Dove is right
Go Dov Go!!!!
Dov is %100 percent right. Give it a few years and then the roots of the trees start pushing up the sidewalk and the HOMEOWNER is michuyav to pay for it or face heavy fines from the gestapo police here in NYC. Its just another sham to rob the hardworking taxpayers of NY out of their money.
Few years? More like 40 years at a minimum
stop kvetching brats
What about when the roots of the tree grow into the water and sewer pipes underground and crack the pipes. Then the owner needs to spend thousands of dollars replacing the pipes. It happens all the time.
Dov is right