Man Vs. Tree in Dyker Heights

That tree-hugging Mayor Bloomberg and his Million Trees NYC campaign can go play in traffic as far as Dyker Heights resident (and noted gadfly) Sonny Soave is concerned. Ever since discovering telltale white markings spray painted on the sidewalk outside his house, Soave has been futilely trying to stop the city from planting a tree outside his house. He rants to the Brooklyn Paper: “How is it that I have no say about what goes in front of my house? Am I living in a communist New York where the city makes the decision for you? I know it’s the city’s sidewalk, but once it’s planted, it becomes my responsibility to clean up." And we all know how slovenly trees can be, always littering the sidewalk with their stinking leaves and fouling up the air with their oxygen. That's why Soave's making a stand: "I’ll stand right here and block them from putting that tree in if I have to."

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By John Del Signore in News on August 26, 2008 5:41 PM

Comments [rss]

Snoopy

The real problem is Sonny doesn't want to have the sap of the tree land on his '83 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham that he parks on his concrete front lawn to impress the neighbors.

maryba

It's completely fair for him to want a say in the matter, because if it survives, the tree will ultimately be his responsibility, and depending on the size of his home, his liability.

There was a discussion about this on brownstoner last year:

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2007/11/should_the_city.php

JenChungsBaby

They don't plant huge majestic anything. The slender trees become that on their own if people like Sonny let them be. (Hey, didn't Sonny rob a bank in Brooklyn to pay for his transexual boyfriend's sex change operation?)

robingee

Are they planting a huge majestic maple or a small, slender tree like we often see on city sidewalks? My guess is the latter. Some folks have a problem with everything. Damn nature, tree-ifying the Old Neighborhood! Why in MY day...

schizofriendly

Exactly, cucarachita.

Snoopy

Judging by the "DO NOT" sign shown behind him he has a serious problem living where he is living.

After he gets arrested I hope he likes seeing his old neighborhood pals again at Dannemora.

Think2wice

His neighbors probably need it to obscure views of him and his house.

In my old neighborhood I hope the city finally replaces the several trees slain by disease and pests.

dooWOP

I bet not many of you know that Sonny there used to be a mob enforcer back in the day. He is rumored to have snuffed out 7 to 8 guys back then, but otherwise he now leads a quiet normal life in Brooklyn.

JRod5417

"Sonny could have a point. Once trees get huge their roots sometimes wreck the sidewalks they are planted in. Would Sonny then have to repair that damage?"

The liability will fall upon the party whose duty it is to maintain the sidewalk. Some cities (recently New York, for example) have by ordinance placed the burden squarely upon the property owner. Sometimes it depends upon the type of danger. For example, snow removal is usually the duty of the property owner, but major structural repair is the duty of the city.

JenChungsBaby

They can plant the tree in front of my place instead. But I will be suing if in 40 years the tree falls down dead and lands on my car.

WorksInDUMBO

@ #6--you're right, those gingko trees are a menace!

whitecastlerock

Sonny could have a point. Once trees get huge their roots sometimes wreck the sidewalks they are planted in. Would Sonny then have to repair that damage?

gttim

“How is it that I have no say about what goes in front of my house?"

You do have a say, and you are saying it. The problem is that nobody cares. I suggest a cordless blower to deal with the leaves.

subtexture

i'm pretty sure the orange markings show up when they are going to install a bike rack in front of your house

Kojak

“How is it that I have no say about what goes in front of my house?"

Simple. The area on the other side of the sidewalk from your house belongs to the city of New York, not to you. They can plant whatever the hell they want.

Kojak

"I’ll stand right here and block them from putting that tree in if I have to."

Go ahead and watch them haul your ass to jail. If anything happens to that tree, they're obviously going to investigate you.

John Del Signore

Yes, white markings. Corrected, thanks! (I think the bed bug video is messing with me.)

books

For years I fought them putting a tree in front of my house - I was raised to believe the roots could effect the pipes in the ground - they would send a letter asking you to reply if you wanted one...I never replied, then one day they just cut the cement and put one in front of my house, it seems without even asking...

I was pissed for a day, but now I'm happy to have it, and I think they should be in front of every house - it makes the block looks nicer. No doubt about it.

jibbly

Seriously, if he doesn't want the tree, 9th Ave below Greenwood Cemetery is screaming for some. He can have all the totally awesome sun baked concrete and asphalt he wants, some of us want some goddamn shade.

Spirit of 76

[14] The guy is not totally mistaken. Gothamist is. The Brooklyn Paper photo clearly shows white paint. Their article mentions no orange. It's only when the story gets to Gothamist that it suddenly acquires an orange hue. Sometimes, it seems like Gothamist writers are the final participants in a game of Telephone.