PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Fay Hill, Member of Queens Community Board 13, on Tree Maintenance
2:14:30
ยท
3 min
Fay Hill, a long-time resident of Queens and member of Community Board 13, testified in support of Intro 800-2024, emphasizing the critical need for proper tree maintenance in New York City. She shared personal experiences and community concerns regarding the dangers posed by poorly maintained trees.
- Hill recounted a recent incident where a city tree fell near her home due to lack of maintenance, causing damage to electrical infrastructure.
- She highlighted ongoing issues with tree maintenance in her community, including delayed responses to reports of dangerous trees and inadequate inspections.
- Hill stressed the importance of trees for environmental and aesthetic reasons, but emphasized that proper care is vital to prevent threats to human safety and property.
Fay Hill
2:14:30
Good evening.
2:14:31
Good day.
2:14:32
Let's say somebody and, the city council member, thank you for allowing me to testify in support of intro 8 0800 dash 2024.
2:14:43
My name is Faye Hill.
2:14:44
I'm a resident of Queens Springfield Gardens for over 40 year 48 years.
2:14:50
And the chair of the community board 13 environmental for several years and an advocate for the New York City Parks and Green Space where I where I testified on behalf of New York for parks, rallied on this, the steps of city hall, and testified on various of New York City Council administration.
2:15:10
I'm here to testify once more on the critical issue of why low tree maintenance is critical and unsafe for my community and other areas of the city.
2:15:21
On several occasions, when we when I hosted the parks and environmental committee, community board 13 meetings, there are many concerns from the community in reference to low then dome maintenance of trees that are a major problem and are a danger to, to people and their property.
2:15:40
This has been a long occurring problem and our committee meetings and no end is inside.
2:15:48
I may anticipate personally today.
2:15:50
On January 9, 2025, at approximately 2:30, one of the city trees fell down because of low maintenance.
2:16:00
Luckily, this tree did not damage the roof of my home, but I had to replace electrical pole adjourned to my home and the wise of and the wires for con con Edison.
2:16:11
This tree has been reported several times for over 6 years by my neighbor because of low maintenance when falling branches were reported breaking from the trees.
2:16:23
But the New York Parks department forestry department, when they eventually inspected the tree, they reported that the tree was in good condition, and they placed a pin check on its bark.
2:16:34
There's another tree directly in front of my home, which has the same condition, but Forest just said the tree is in perfect condition.
2:16:42
There are several trees in our park in our parks in Rosehill and Springfield Gardens that need total maintenance.
2:16:50
When a tree fall in between a park, broken limbs that are that can be hazardous to peep to people's life.
2:16:58
They are left there for several months before they're either removed or cut down.
2:17:03
We do need trees to help us breathe in oxygen, clean the environment, as well as beautification of our community, But proper care and maintenance is also vital.
2:17:13
When trees are not properly maintained, they pose a threat to harm human or property as a result of of, on January 9th as stated above.
2:17:24
When trees are not maintained, they are a threat from falling limbs on people, property, and building.
2:17:30
As I also mentioned, it that the fallen tree damaged my neighbor's car that was parked in front of her her home when the neighbor had just returned a minute from shopping.
2:17:40
This could have been a injury or killed her.
2:17:43
The her car is totaled.
2:17:45
I'm pleading for, to to the community and our city council to vote to, on intro 0080 dash 2024 into legislation.
2:17:56
Thank
Vickie Paladino
2:17:57
you
Fay Hill
2:17:57
for your time.
2:17:58
Respectfully submitted.
2:17:59
Fay d Hill.