A month ago on Carroll Street, where I live, a street tree was damaged by workers. I did not see it happen, so couldn't report it, but these tips from the Queenscrap blog will prove useful in the future:
Since the topic has been a hot one lately, QC thought we would offer our tips for saving street trees from developers' chainsaws.
1) If you think a street tree is in danger, take a photo of it. This will serve as a "before" photo, a valuable piece of evidence.
2) If you see workers cutting down a tree illegally, don't call 311. Call the borough's forestry office at (718) 699-4289. These are Parks Police Officers, they have the power of arrest and will be dispatched to the scene.
3) Write down the name and address of the contractor removing the tree, if available, (it may be on the construction fence or truck) and take a photo of the crime in progress. The officers will use these to track down the offenders if they have left the scene.
4) You may be asked to sign an affidavit of what you saw if the perpetrators were gone upon the officers' arrival. Your name does not appear on it and you just have to sign your initials. The officers will visit you at home, you won't even have to go to their headquarters. This will be used in court. You may also be asked to testify in person, but this very rarely happens because the developer doesn't bother to fight the fine.
Street trees, besides ading to the aesthetics of the street, help mitigate car exhaust and ozone. In New York, I've always thought it strange that the "avenues," which should traditionally be broad roads with lines of trees or large shrubs running along either side, are seldom so. One more thing to hound mayor Bloomberg about.
Thanks for posting this. I just followed up on my blog as well..
Note that each borough has its own Forestry Office and phone number to call.
Posted by: Xris (Flatbush Gardener) | Feb 04, 2007 at 06:22 PM