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There have been countless stories to invite allusions to Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in the sixty-six years since she first published the novel. But Marion Smith's woeful tale of attempting to get a tree to not grow in Brooklyn may be the ultimate reference-baiting tale. The Daily News has the account of the 79-year-old Smith asking that the city not plant a tree in the spot in front of her Park Slope apartment. She made the request because the previous tree began to wither right around the same time she lost her husband, as she tells the paper, "It died right after he died." After she was assured that her sidewalk would be kept clear, the city still went ahead and showed up to plant one. When a neighbor of the disabled Smith tried to intervene and halt the tree's installation, the Parks Department planter threatened to have the neighbor arrested! Smith is also concerned that she will be unable to clean up any leaves or possible fruit that comes of the ginkgo tree, the fruits of which have an aroma that has been compared to "rancid butter, vomit and dog droppings."
Elderly Brooklyn Woman Can't Stay Away From the Trees
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Why are they planting those disgusting trees? They're a scourge upon Brooklyn! And I mean Ginko... I'm all in favor of trees in general.
They don't plant the female trees anymore. They are the ones that drop the smelly fruit.
It's true they don't knowingly plant female ginkos any more.
As for this woman, the city needs trees. Trees are a public good. We have little canopy as is, new diseases keep killing them, trees help asthma and air quality in general, provide shade, take up rainwater which reduces sewer flooding (and subway outages), etc etc.
Tons of home owners don't want trees because the roots can mess up the sidewalks and foundations. It's self-interest, which is natural, but that's all it is. The fact is that private individuals do not own the sidewalks or streets. They are public property and should be used for the benefit of the public. Sucks for the property owners. Good for everyone else. Them's the breaks.
Of course her stupid neighbor would get arrested for trying to restrain the tree planting contractors from doing their job. Why is that sentence bolded and with an exclamation mark? Anyone who tries to interfere with city workers just carrying out there jobs will be arrested. Go to the marriage bureau and try to halt some random wedding. Try to keep a traffic cop from writing a ticket. See how that goes for you.
I'm with the trees and the city on this one. This old woman is being a selfish jackass. I'll take one more tree and one slightly crankier old woman.
trees help asthma? where'd you hear that?
The article says she paid to have the tree pit paved over. Why? It's not her property. It's city property. You can't do whatever you want on the sidewalks.
Strangely enough if your sidewalk is in disrepair the city can come in and repave same and charge you. Although you really don't own it.
This woman's problems appear to be far deeper than just a replanting, no matter what species the tree is.
It appears to be in front of her apartment. So I guess she isn't the owner of the building. She's not the one to make decisions in this case. And I don't care if she is disabled and her husband died. If she is a renter then she has to live with being same. Perhaps she can be relocated to a back apartment so she wont see the new tree.
If they insist on you having a tree (and, BTW, we would LOVE a tree in front of our home) they could at least allow you to select the variety, such that it fits with the homeowner's desires.
If they insist on you having a tree (and, BTW, we would LOVE a tree in front of our home) they could at least allow you to select the variety, such that it fits with the homeowner's desires.
you pick the tree if you are planting it but if the city is planting the street tree, they pick it.
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/trees_greenstreets/street_tree_plant.html#plantyourown
Instead of the neighbor impeding the work of the city, why not reassure Mrs. Smith that you will tidy up the leaves in the fall. It sounds to me like Mrs. Smith could use a friend, someone to visit with and be engaged in conversation. I don't believe the problem is the tree, it's Mrs. Smith's need to know that someone cares about her and will be there to help out. That's what neighbors used to do.