At the rate of the Long Island Rail Road decimating mature, healthy and stable trees in Forest Hills, which have not fallen since their planting a century ago, it may exceed the rate of the tornado’s destruction upon our trees last September.
Ever wonder why some people go for the easy way out, and how some organizations which supposed to provide beneficial services to their communities turn their back? In this case, rather than pruning a tree to promote healthy growth, the LIRR figures just chop down our trees.
On the quiet Saturday morning of June 18, the LIRR commissioned the ironically titled “Looks Great Services (‘LI’s Favorite Tree Care Co’)” and rudely awakened Forest Hills Gardens, decimating a healthy, historic oak tree that was a monumental pillar for 100-plus years.
This came with just a couple days’ prior notice and after U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s resignation, since it was Weiner who worked with residents to try curbing the LIRR’s approach. This follows in the footsteps of the countless trees the LIRR decimated in 2007. All that now remains is a massive stump, which is apparently not leaning toward the tracks, and is believed to be a lame excuse by the LIRR.
True, the trees are owned by the LIRR, but the larger picture is their membership in the natural environment and by the people who admire their historic beauty and realize their means of purifying air and buffering noise from trains.
In the past, the LIRR said they would prune our trees but instead chopped them down. After the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance and Rego-Forest Preservation Council led a highly successful tree giveaway event in MacDonald Park June 12 in response to the Sept. 16 tornado, the LIRR evidently defeated the purpose.
We the people urgently request a meeting and a public hearing from the LIRR and want the LIRR and its commissioned companies to further halt tree destruction. New trees must be planted in place of those that prematurely perished, although there is no replacement for a mature tree. Our politicians need to join us in this movement.
Michael Perlman
Chairman
Rego-Forest Preservation Council
Forest Hills
