NYC Waterfalls Tree Body-Count Growing

Last year, when people started complaining that spray from Olafur Eliasson’s waterfalls was prematurely turning trees brown, officials assured everyone the salty, East River mist wouldn't cause any "long-term danger." (Though the Public Art Fund did pay to have the salt regularly cleaned off, and the waterfalls operating hours were reduced.) Well, now it looks like some of the damage may indeed have been permanent. Scott Stamford, general manager at the River Cafe (pictured), recently showed the Brooklyn Paper some sickly-looking trees on the property, which is right by the Brooklyn Bridge. Though other trees nearby are already budding, three weeping birches are showing "no sign of life at all." And according to Stamford, "an ornamental crab apple tree... is nowhere near where it should be at this time of year." To be sure, Spring has taken its time this year, but as Stamford points out, trees can also die slowly, and he's worried that "every season we may see fewer and fewer signs of life." Asked what the restaurant will do if the trees are in fact deceased, Stamford replied, "Well, the lawyers will have to figure that out."

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By John Del Signore in News on April 1, 2009 4:50 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

-Asked what the restaurant will do if the trees are in fact deceased, Stamford replied, "Well, the lawyers will have to figure that out."

Oh please. Just plant another tree. Crabapples suck anyway.

dadoc

See what I mean about lawyers?

AJO524

Yeah, the city should buy new trees and plant them. But it takes many years, even decades for trees to really hit their prime (unless the city digs up mature ones instead of planting new).

Kinda lame that we lost more of the already so few trees in this city for something so stupid.

'officials assured everyone the salty, East River mist wouldn't cause any "long-term danger."'--- April Fools??

Dead Himmler

Trees are overrated.

nicemarmot

So what is this guy, the frickin Lorax? He speaks for the trees?

sluggo

Ok, so replant them! Send a bill to the city! Is it really that big a deal?

wobbleSmith

these "waterfalls" sucked. super lame mass-installation art. those poor trees didn't even die for a good cause. sigh.

wobbleSmith

these "waterfalls" sucked. super lame mass-installation art. those poor trees didn't even die for a good cause. sigh.

Huffy6241

516 PEOPLE were murdered in NYC last year - those tree fags lawers doing anything about that?

jaycjay

Actually, yes, about the same as they're doing here. Find a murderer who actually has any assets, and you're sure to find a lawyer right behind him with a wrongful death suit.