Coming out for trees in Hartford - Rick Green | CT Confidential 10/21/09 9:40 AM

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ABOUT Coming out for trees in Hartford About | Email | Rick's Column By Rick Green on October 20, 2009 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I wrote in my column Tuesday that it appeared other cities, including New Haven and Providence, were doing far more than Hartford to nurture their forests. Search But there are hopeful signs that things might change in Hartford, a city with 450,000 trees. Archives Select a Month... Jack Hale, the former director of the Knox Parks Foundation, contacted me to talk about the proposed effort to create a "tree ordinance" in the city. Hale and others told me local laws to protect trees are becoming more common as cities realize that urban forests provide -- ADVERTISEMENT -- important economic and health benefits.

"We know that those trees make our neighborhoods habitable. They slow down traffic. They make our air healthier. They even increase the lifespan of pavement," Hale said. "It makes sense to pay attention to them specifically"

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"Trees have a specific and important set of roles to play in the community. They need to be considered separate from other things."

The ordinance, which council members Luis Cotto and Jim Boucher plan to introduce, would provide specific protection for Hartford's trees. It would set up a citizen tree advisory commission and a city forester position and create a master plan for the city's trees.

Significantly -- and this may be controversial -- property property owners would not be allowed to remove large trees without obtaining a permit from the city. A special fund to pay for new If your new partner has a history of domestic violence... Teen Dating Violence: What Is Physical Abuse? trees would be financed through permits required for tree removal and fines for illegal cutting of Clothesline Project At UConn Calls Attention To protected trees. Domestic Violence 'Sin By Silence' Cotto said he hoped the full city council would discuss the ordinance soon. Mommy's Now Strong

"I've evolved into more of a nature person. I grew up in a typical ghetto kid,'' said Cotto. "We are working with people who Trees make you safer http://bit.ly/11fIJo about are diehard tree people. We should be 23 hours ago encouraging this." Second Circuit: Politics not behind Schaghticoke sacking Meanwhile, others called to tell me about http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/ 1 day ago an ongoing aerial study of the city's tree GOP catfight continues in race to dump Sen. Dodd http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/ 1 day canopy that will provide new data about the http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/2009/10/turns-out-theres-lots-of.html Page 1 of 4 Coming out for trees in Hartford - Rick Green | CT Confidential 10/21/09 9:40 AM

Dodd http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/ 1 day canopy that will provide new data about the ago state of the forest. The University of Vermont study, paid for by the federal follow me on Twitter government, will help assess what trees are most in need. RICK'S COLUMN Another reader wrote to me suggesting The Courant organize an adopt-a-tree program for Planting New Trees Can Also Save Money Hartford. She volunteered to make the first donation to pay for the planting of a tree in the city. The Political Rebranding Of Linda McMahon New Leader Of Mohegan Tribe Facing Many Challenges Ron Pitz of Knox Parks said they welcome contributions of any amount to their "Plant a Tree Town's Money Should Follow Student To School Fund." Pitz told me that for a $500 donation, Knox will remove a stump from one of the many Seat Belts Save Lives. Driver's Ed? No, Not Really empty sidewalk tree wells in downtown Hartford. They will replace the soil and plant a healthy tree. RECENT ENTRIES Michael Millane, president of Millane Nurseries in Cromwell and a supplier of trees to cities The Whale lives throughout the Northeast, reminded me that "trees don't just make people feel good, they also Coming out for trees in Hartford provide jobs -- and jobs are what we need right now." Frightening figs on the cost of college, but note net price Planting trees in cities

Categories: Hartford, trees Fake news Yes Men stick it to Chamber of C on climate Tags: Hartford, Knox Parks Foundation, Luis Cotto, Millane Nurseries ICYMI: Martin Woods of West Hartford on Afghanistan Second Circuit: Politics not behind Schaghticoke sacking 2 Comments Kill your television! And the MSM too! Online politics scene expanding By Hartford Resident on October 20, 2009 8:17 PM GOP catfight continues in race to dump Sen. Dodd I'm all for trees, but I'm strongly against the City instituting any type of ordinance that requires me to get a permit to remove "large trees." RECENT COMMENTS

It's bad enough that people have to personally pay thousands of dollars to have these "large trees" Rick Green commented on Coming out for trees in removed when they become diseased or just a general hazard based on weather, etc. If the city is so Hartford: That['s a good point. I interested in getting involved in my yard, are they going to chip in when the trees become unsafe to pay Hartford Resident commented on Coming out for trees and have them removed? in Hartford: I'm all for trees, but I'

RESOURCES By Rick Green on October 20, 2009 8:29 PM My Column That['s a good point. I think the real issue is people who take down a healthy tree for no good reason. Carpet City Chronicle Courant Alumni Leave a comment CT Law Tribune CT Local Politics Name CT News Junkie CT Local Politics Email Address Courant blogs Estate of Denial Everyday Republican URL (optional) Greater Hartford R.E. Hartford IMC Remember personal info? Huffpost

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