On Monday, August 29, 2011, the day after Tropical Storm Irene left many roads in Bellerose and Floral Park completely blocked (and as of this writing, many roads are still impassable), an irate neighbor visited me to complain about the intentional cutting down of three city trees at the curb on the north side of Hillside Ave., between 256 and 257 St. in Floral Park. I visited the site and took the photos which are below.
My observation was of three apparently healthy city trees with no leaves, branches or other debris around the trees except for sawdust at the base of each tree, just feet below where the trees were intentionally cut by a saw. There was no apparent evidence of any loose or damaged branches or uprooting that might have made these trees a danger to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Two of the trees are in front of a super market at 256-09 Hillside Ave., obviously partially blocking the name and window signs. Large ads were placed in every window by the former owner of the Fine Fare supermarket. A sign in the store windows now indicates: "BALAJISUER BAZAAR COMING SOON".
The third tree is close by, in front of 256-15 Hillside Ave., Friendly Realty & Mgmt.
I am not currently aware of any eyewitnesses to this destruction of New York City property.
Since the intentional damaging of city trees is a criminal act, the community deserves an immediate investigation by the Parks Dept., even before the trees are removed, in case there is ever a prosecution. And the removal of the stumps and replacement of the trees should be a priority, especially since the Mayor is still looking for spaces for the million trees he is having planted. Ideally it should be at the expense of the perpetrators and not taxpayers.
As District Manager of CB13Q, please communicate with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and/or the NYPD if deemed appropriate, and request an immediate investigation of this apparent criminal act along with a speedy replacement of these trees.
I expect to hear from you on this matter.
Sincerely,
James Delaney
Member, CB13 Parks Committee
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In light of the recent attack on trees mentioned below - A Queens Coalition for Parks and Green Spaces Press conference is scheduled for Thursday, Sept 1 at 4 PM at 256-09 Hillside Avenue. We need to put pressure on people to give up the people who cut down trees - the three trees are valued at over $11,000.00 and are assets of the community. And its not just about the money - we are all trying to green up Queens and the rest of the city and some idiot decides to cut down trees. Can you imagine losing three healthy street trees in your neighborhood? Come and help us get the message out - Don't Mess with our Street Trees - Killers Beware.
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The Queens Coalition for Parks and Green Spaces is offering a reward of $200 for info leading to the arrest of those responsible for the cutting down of 3 City Street Trees on the 256 block of Hillside Avenue. There is no excuse for the execution of these trees and I hope others will join us in offering a reward and or providing information. Pictures taken clearly show that the trees were cut about 80% and the culprits hoped that is would be blamed on Irene. I am sickened by some self serving person would have the gall to intentionally harm street trees while we are all working to plant and save them. We have also heard of similar problems in Flushing. This has got to and will stop with help from the neighborhood.
PEP is investigating, but this is your neighborhood, so we all need to be pro-active, otherwise others will see that they can get away with it and do the same. Image dozens of our street trees being cut down? I will not and can not allow this and I will not sit back and wait for more arboricide to happen. Will you join me in hunting down the scum that did this?
Respectfully,
Frederick Kress
Queens Coalition for Parks and Green Spaces
PS: IF anyone would like to contribute to the REWARD it would probably increase the odds of us getting the parties responsible for this.
30 comments:
There are plans, with much support from locals, to turn this area into a 'mini-mall' to accomodate the large Indian population in the area. Its in the preliminary stage now but it does involve the conversion of residential properties to commercial. Homeowners, who arent marketing their properties, have been approached with offers to purchase.
Change is okay as long as it doesn’t ruin the quality of life for the residents of Bellerose and Floral Park. If the new store at the old Fine Fare market is anything like Super Halal Meat, all is lost. I would start packing my bags now.
Superhalalmeat.com
The person(s) who did this should die the same way. I didn't see who cut down the trees but if I had to guess. It had to be the owners of the store under construction. Who else had any reason to do this. It's a shame this happened and I hope the city replants more trees on that block soon.
Can anything be done when a private developer comes in and puts 100+ year old trees in danger? Are there any laws in place that preserve trees on private property?
Oh stop crying. It is their neighborhood now, theycan do whatever they want with it. WHy are you all so afraid of change. Tey are good hardworking people just seeking the American Dream, just like you and I. Remember, we are all immigrants in this country. You zenophobic Archie Bunkers.
Change is okay as long as it doesn’t ruin the quality of life for the residents of Bellerose and Floral Park.
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Is 'change' 'good' or 'bad'?
There is only one criteria: is it of benefit to the Queens Tammany Organization?
If it means tweeding opportunities, driving out the bellyaching Archies and Ediths for a transient group that culturally is deferential to authority the answer is obvious.
"Oh stop crying. It is their neighborhood now, theycan do whatever they want with it. WHy are you all so afraid of change. Tey are good hardworking people just seeking the American Dream, just like you and I. Remember, we are all immigrants in this country. You zenophobic Archie Bunkers."
WTF does this have to do with the killing of these beautiful trees???? I'm hoping this is just a poor attempt at sarcasm.
"They" are non-conforming anti-Americans. My realtives came here 100 years and all they wanted to do was blend in.
These animals cut down trees and isolate themselves. They want nothing to do with America and are not shy about telling us via their actions.
And they are horrible drivers. Try driving down that part of Hillside...it's full of double-parked cars and asswipes who cross against the light.
It's over Johnny!
in 2009, 19 sibling trees were planted in a concrete play ground at P.S.159 Q. @ 205 street/33rd avenue ,c.s.d.26. In Bayside.
it was one of the hundreds of bloomberg'sPLAnyc2030, playground to park conversions in N.Y.C. the bad economy stopped the projects.
Most of them cost $2-3 MILLION.
this one had 15 trees die the first year,and all were replaced.
presently two more trees have died,and possibly three
if the three trees in this post cost $11,000.,what is the cost for 21 dead trees in planyc , at P.S.159 ? and the replanting of 15 more.
and should the principal(now retired) be forced to repay the citizens for the dumb decision to make a play space for teens into a "GREEN" sitting space?
some leaders love to perpetuate dumb,poorly planned, liberal ideas ,as long as someone else pays for them.
WTF does this have to do with the killing of these beautiful trees???? I'm hoping this is just a poor attempt at sarcasm.
Dont sweat there is a big attempt by the county organization to discredit this site so they post crap like this - a good acid test if someone is a party toady is for them to say 'oh I don't go on Crap its so racist.'
If you want the quality of life that you once had in Queens in 1970 or 1980, you don't live in Queens. It's as simple as that.
I told people 20 years ago, it's not that they are resisting assimilation into America, it's that they think you're resisting their assimilation of their part of Queens into a new India, a new Mexico, a new China, etc.
I can count to tree!
"If you want the quality of life that you once had in Queens in 1970 or 1980, you don't live in Queens. It's as simple as that."
Are you kidding me? I grew up not far from there and still live nearby and I can tell you its much better then the 70' and 80' as all of New York is. Its safer and cleaner and the people who live there do care about stuff like trees being cut down. I guess you never heard of little Italy or been to an Irish neighborhood.
Anon No. 9:
Of course, planting trees is a "Liberal" idea. You would do what as an alternative?
QUESTION THE OWNER OF THAT SUPERMARKET!
THIS LOOKS VERY SUSPICIOUS!
This area of Jamaica has already been smelled like the filthy Bombay.
at p.s.159, the softball field,full court basket ball space, was destroyed by planting 19 trees, installing a gazebo,20 benches,an expensive 30'x 40' astroturf "GREEN " rug.(not large enough for any game to be played), a small fake running track with a sewer drain in one lane and a 1/2 court basketball space with a sewer drain underneath the basket.
the liberals in the d.o.e destroyed a teen exercise play space for a sitting "GREEN" space.
a waste of money and teen play space to perpetuate the SOCIALIST GREEN DREAM.
Did anyone object to it, or is that what people in the community wanted?
I think the trees were cut intentionally by someone who does not want the supermarket to be there and it should look obvious to people who would think that if the trees were cut in front of supermarket then the finger will be pointed at them.Maybe it is the competitors of the supermarket or any individual.As far as we know in the neighbourhood that it would be a clean supermarket with no butcher or meat inside.
investigators should look at possible future real estate deals involving this property. developers do not like trees blocking their construction egress. owners and residents want more concrete , parking spaces and curbcuts, not trees blocking the cars.
this is common with the South East Asian population.
the P.S.159 planyc conversion was not voted on by the C.P.B.11. it was strictly a bloomberg/principal/D.O.E. stupid plan to make a teen play space into a mostly unused GREEN sitting space.
it is entirely NYC Dept. of Education property, paid for by the nyc taxpayers. the teens were prevented from ever playing softball and Basketball(fullcourt). because the 19 replanted sibling trees will grow(unless mother nature prevails) and block any sports play forever.
if your child is over weight,this liberal mistake may be the reason.
the sewers are a danger and the tree blocking the possible full court should be removed immediately.
"Try driving down that part of Hillside"
No kidding !
Aside the maniac drivers you cant find parking anyplace and whatever cooking is going on smells absolutely disgusting.
I almost threw up walking to my truck the smell was 10X worse then leg of lamb the Greek's cook.
A good 1/2 those houses must be ruined from whatever animals and things they are cooking.
These people are also in Floral Park now. Many of the landlords cut the trees down so they don't have to sweep.
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if your child is over weight,this liberal mistake may be the reason.
the sewers are a danger and the tree blocking the possible full court should be removed immediately.}}}
The solution is Adderall or Ritalin (ADHD meds) and a NYSC membership at only $75 - $99 per month. Isn't that what most people in Manhattan do to stay thin??
"if your child is over weight,this liberal mistake may be the reason."
No, if your child is fat (extremely rare when I was a kid in the 60s) It is primarily because of the rise of high fat fast food -led by big business.
They go into one country after another and the results are always the same -people become fatter.
Add to that the sedentary, "virtual" life that technology encourages, and you have the obesity plague.
It's not a matter of more sports, it getting people out of their cars, away from the computer and away from McD's.
at P.S.159, the principal padlocks the gate to the toddler exercise equipment. in favor of the children siitting under a tree,in the gazebo,or on one of the 20 benches.
exercise burns calories,sitting keeps you fat after a meal.
When they find this prick,just cut off one of his legs at the knee...........
the wood stump could then be attached to his thigh ,as a reminder not to cut young trees with a chainsaw.
i hope a camera recorded the sin.
What do these people have against trees??? All the trees in Richmond Hill are gone thanks the people in that community that turned it into New Delhi.
What do these people have against trees??? All the trees in Richmond Hill are gone thanks the people in that community that turned it into New Delhi.
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WOAH! What happened to the whole "Asians hate trees"? Has that idea now transferred over to Indian people. YIPPY now my race is off the hook! You guys sure do redirect your anger/stereotypes rather quickly.
Well something must've happened to that landlord who, I think, payed someone in the community to take down those trees b/c the that store hasn't opened! I'm just glad I moved the hell out of that neighborhood. It's turned to crap!
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