The damaged tree on 43rd Street (Photo: George Burles)
March 14, 2014 By Christian Murray
The production company that is filming Blue Bloods came under fire in Woodside yesterday after one of its vehicles backed into a tree.
The truck hit a tree located on 43rd Street (by 48th Avenue) at about 2 pm, causing a large branch to snap off. One woman who was walking along 43rd street at the time, after doing her grocery shopping, said the branch could have caused a several injury had it hit someone.
The incident, which was discussed at the United 40s Civic Association meeting in Woodside last night, led to a flurry of complaints about production companies.
Many said that the TV/movie industry takes advantage of the neighborhood—by taking valuable parking spaces, damaging property and leaving garbage behind. Incidents, such as the tree, indicated a total disregard for the area, one man said after the meeting.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who was at the meeting, said that his office had already heard the complaint about the tree and he was reaching out to the production company.
He said that he will make sure that the company covers the cost of the damaged tree by making a payment to the Parks Department.
Van Bramer said that most production companies have a “restitution fund” where they will compensate a neighborhood if it is inconvenienced in a major way or if damage is done.
He said that people should call his office when incidents occur.
