- Location
- North of Boston
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bron...f_us_alone.html
Now, it's NIMFY -- Not in My FRONT Yard.
Some Mott Haven residents are fuming over city plans to plant trees on their block.
The problem, they say, is that the tree roots eventually crack their sidewalks, leaving them stuck with the repair bill.
"If they want a green Bronx, just look in our backyards," said Marion Rivas of 434 E. 144th St. "We already have trees there. We don't need them out in front."
The trees are part of Mayor Bloomberg's MillionTrees campaign to plant 1 million trees in the city by 2030.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is planning to plant 12 street trees along E. 144th St. between Brook and Willis Aves.
But residents there point to city trees planted across the street that already have ripped up their neighbors' sidewalks.
"This used to be flat," said Shawn Ramos, of 443 E. 144th St., pointing to his broken sidewalk. "I've seen people trip over this. If someone gets hurt, then we're the ones in trouble."
Residents on the south side of the street said it's only a matter of time before the same thing happens to their sidewalks.
Homeowners also fear that because their sidewalk is 2-feet narrower, fully-grown trees will damage their homes, clog sewer drains and entangle power lines.
Most of all, they worry about footing the bill to fix inevitable upheavals in the sidewalks.
"I spent $1,200 fixing my sidewalk already, because it was old," said Polivio Hernandez of 428 E. 144th St. "Now they want to put these trees here? What happens if, in a couple of years, the sidewalk is all destroyed again? I don't want to spend more money."
Parks officials did not respond directly to neighbors' concerns about out-of-pocket expenses, instead saying that careful thought goes into each tree planting.
"We plant street trees in all available spaces on city property at no additional cost to residents, following stringent procedures with special regard to species selection, tree pit width, and canopy coverage," said spokeswoman Jesslyn Tiao Moser.
"Once the street trees are planted, the city cares for street trees, just as it fixes street lights and other crucial city infrastructure," she said.
But Marilyn Ramos, of 443 E. 144th St., scoffed at that claim.
"I've had to fight with the city to get my tree pruned," she said. "I can't believe they're putting in more trees in an area they don't even take care of trees that are already there."
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bron...0I53j8ODj&D
Now, it's NIMFY -- Not in My FRONT Yard.
Some Mott Haven residents are fuming over city plans to plant trees on their block.
The problem, they say, is that the tree roots eventually crack their sidewalks, leaving them stuck with the repair bill.
"If they want a green Bronx, just look in our backyards," said Marion Rivas of 434 E. 144th St. "We already have trees there. We don't need them out in front."
The trees are part of Mayor Bloomberg's MillionTrees campaign to plant 1 million trees in the city by 2030.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is planning to plant 12 street trees along E. 144th St. between Brook and Willis Aves.
But residents there point to city trees planted across the street that already have ripped up their neighbors' sidewalks.
"This used to be flat," said Shawn Ramos, of 443 E. 144th St., pointing to his broken sidewalk. "I've seen people trip over this. If someone gets hurt, then we're the ones in trouble."
Residents on the south side of the street said it's only a matter of time before the same thing happens to their sidewalks.
Homeowners also fear that because their sidewalk is 2-feet narrower, fully-grown trees will damage their homes, clog sewer drains and entangle power lines.
Most of all, they worry about footing the bill to fix inevitable upheavals in the sidewalks.
"I spent $1,200 fixing my sidewalk already, because it was old," said Polivio Hernandez of 428 E. 144th St. "Now they want to put these trees here? What happens if, in a couple of years, the sidewalk is all destroyed again? I don't want to spend more money."
Parks officials did not respond directly to neighbors' concerns about out-of-pocket expenses, instead saying that careful thought goes into each tree planting.
"We plant street trees in all available spaces on city property at no additional cost to residents, following stringent procedures with special regard to species selection, tree pit width, and canopy coverage," said spokeswoman Jesslyn Tiao Moser.
"Once the street trees are planted, the city cares for street trees, just as it fixes street lights and other crucial city infrastructure," she said.
But Marilyn Ramos, of 443 E. 144th St., scoffed at that claim.
"I've had to fight with the city to get my tree pruned," she said. "I can't believe they're putting in more trees in an area they don't even take care of trees that are already there."
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bron...0I53j8ODj&D
