REMARKS
Discussion on codifying tree maintenance criteria and improving transparency
1:12:08
ยท
114 sec
Council Member Williams emphasizes the importance of codifying tree maintenance criteria and improving transparency in the process.
- She reiterates the need for making tree maintenance assessment and prioritization information readily available to the public.
- Williams highlights the significant quality of life issues posed by trees, particularly for homeowners.
- She mentions plans for additional bills to demystify and improve the tree maintenance process.
- The Council Member acknowledges the resource challenges in maintaining trees in a big city and expresses hope for collaboration on passing the proposed bill.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:12:08
Thank you.
1:12:11
I know that in the testimony, you know, it stated that you wanna be able to have, like, flexibility, and you don't necessarily think things like this should be codified into law.
1:12:22
But, again, I just want to reiterate that I think it's, like, good governance to have these things be readily available to the public, and for them to be able to understand the ways in which you all assess and prioritize tree maintenance.
1:12:39
Because for many people, it's quite a frustrating experience to and then you can't touch the tree.
1:12:45
Because if you touch the tree, you, you know, you're gonna be in big trouble.
1:12:49
But these trees pose, like, a significant quality of life issues, particularly for homeowners.
1:12:55
And I know, again, that you have thousands of trees in New York City, but I do think trees that are in residential communities is completely different than trees that may be in a park or trees that even may be along commercial corridors because this is you know, you're talking about people's, like, personal property.
1:13:16
I think people have, they're a little territorial over things that they buy and own, and then they have these trees that disrupt that whole thing.
1:13:26
So, you know, I have a few more bills about trees because I do wanna figure out a way to, one, make the process demystify, like, the tree maintenance process for constituents, but also, like, improve upon the process.
1:13:42
And I know it isn't just through legislation, but through resources as well, because really, it's really expensive and very hard to maintain all the trees, you know, in a big city.
1:13:53
So I hope that you guys, take another look at the bill, and we can work towards getting to some resolution to pass it.
1:14:01
Thank you.
1:14:01
Thank you, chair.