You may have seen a recent commercial depicting an idyllic town called Port Washington. In it, the camera follows a car as it meanders down a beautiful tree-lined street. Unfortunately, the commercial wasn’t filmed here. Port Washington’s actual Main Street doesn’t match up to this imaginary locale. We don’t have the same robust community trees. Why? Well, we don’t have a law that protects our valuable street trees.
Adopting one of the many model tree laws provided by the state is a straightforward solution to protecting our street trees. One look at Main Street and you can see that we’ve outgrown the “tree-1-1” ordinance implemented in 2008 (in response to the outcry following the Highway Department’s removal of 5 mature pin oaks). Missing from the ordinance is a comprehensive framework to fairly evaluate tree removal requests initiated by private parties. Trees remain vulnerable, as removal requests are never denied. Also, there is no place for the public to have a substantive voice in the process. Adding insult to injury, in many cases when a tree is removed, a new tree is not planted. In fact, our town’s tree care policy is so vague that we are at risk for losing our NYS DEC Tree City Grant award.
Everyone knows the incredible benefits of trees—from increasing property values to improving businesses to fighting global warming. It’s time for our town council to pass a law that reflects our environmental values.
This Arbor Day, join me in sending a clear message to Supervisor Bosworth and the town council by calling 311 or writing an email to bosworthj@northhempsteadny.gov. Let them know that we are voters who deserve a tree protection law.
By making our voices heard, our elected officials can help to ensure that our reality lives up to our image.
—Alicia J. Klat, Esq.
