"Hey Corinna, some guy's chopping down a tree on 7th Street between 9th and 10th -- I just saw it. Man, I can't believe it," he said. "Call Code Enforcement, can you? I'm driving -- just saw it as I drove by."
As I jumped in my car, I felt like an ambulance driver rushing to the rescue. Perhaps my true name was Protectress of Trees. Too bad I didn't have a cape and the ability to fly!
But I zoomed down the alley and some one way streets until I saw it: a native tree nearly completely denuded.
So sad.
Was I too late? I practically screeched to a halt.
But I zoomed down the alley and some one way streets until I saw it: a native tree nearly completely denuded.
So sad.
Was I too late? I practically screeched to a halt.
In front of me it, another car (a white van, actually) was parked at the scene, along the busy corridor of SW 7th Street: Code Enforcement!
I was pleased and relieved.
The two Code Enforcement officers were assessing the damage. Clearly, there were a bit astonished by my arrival. Who was this chick taking photos with her iPhone -- of a tree? I was no tourist, that's for sure. I introduced myself and we shook hands.
I offered to take photos of them and they both declined. "But it IS good publicity for us," one of the officers mused, almost under his breath. One of the officers turned out to be none other than the head of Code Enforcement himself! I was glad to finally meet him.
I turned to the owner of the property, a slightly stooped over elderly gentleman with an American flag pin affixed to his well worn cap. In a soft voice, he explained that he had not meant to kill the tree, only to remove the limbs that had become infested with termites. He pointed to one of the fallen limbs, its bark torn off: indeed, it was riddled with tiny holes.
We watched as workers hauled the already cut limbs away. Just a few remaining parts of the truck still stood tall, their branches reaching out for sunshine and air.
"We have so few trees in this neighborhood," I explained, in Spanish. "That's why it's important not to kill them."
We watched as workers hauled the already cut limbs away. Just a few remaining parts of the truck still stood tall, their branches reaching out for sunshine and air.
"We have so few trees in this neighborhood," I explained, in Spanish. "That's why it's important not to kill them."
Jose called my cellphone. "No need to go over there, Code Enforcement is handling it," he said, and I explained that I'd already arrived.
"Ok, I'm coming by then." Within minutes Jose had joined us.
As he explained to the owner, cutting limbs can kill a tree if not done properly. I added that landscaping companies can end up killing trees when they don't trim them properly, and not all are licensed. Do they even need a license to operate, I wondered?
"He could be facing $10,000 in fines if the tree dies," said one of the Code Enforcement officers, "he didn't have a permit." It seems to me that landscaping companies should take some responsibility for how they cut the tree!
I felt bad for the heavily amputated tree AND for the owner. And I wondered about others who have cut down trees and have gotten away with it, simply because they have more "connections."
Little Havana has a serious tree shortage -- and in a city with one of the lowest amounts of tree canopy in the U.S.!
Little Havana has a serious tree shortage -- and in a city with one of the lowest amounts of tree canopy in the U.S.!
As I stood there watching Jose talk to the owner, I thought about how important it is help local residents and business owners understand the value of trees. They also need to learn the consequences (not just environmentally, but economically and socially) that come from chopping them down.
If you care about our Little Havana trees, and want to help plant new ones, check out my article on how to get involved in local tree-related efforts.
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