The risk of severe weather is not a good reason to decimate Nature! But that is what LIPA and other officials are saying.
Don't succumb to the anti-environment hysteria and hype; Help protect, preserve, defend, and enhance Nature. In East Hills, NY as elsewhere, many trees came down during the most recent hurricane; now some residents, abetted by callow political leaders, want permission to remove perfectly healthy trees anywhere near their homes. This policy belies the facts: many trees that came down were severely decayed -- at least partially through neglect -- and could have been identified earlier; other trees were top-heavy for the soil, and could have been pruned proactively. But very significantly, EVERY house struck by trees that we documented only suffered relatively MINOR damage -- see Click Here -- that insurance will easily cover. If one house was seriously damaged, or one person struck by a tree, that is NOT a reasonable basis for attacking all trees -- any more than banning all dogs due to one breed's propensity to kill and maim, or banning all motor vehicles because pedestrians or other motorists are killed daily. Trees -- like Canada geese -- are a voiceless, defenseless target. Our daily 'War on Nature' must give way to a 'war'on environmental destruction, attacking greed, selfishness, over-consumption, ignorance, and arrogance. Then our planet, and the living creatures who depend with us on this environment, will have the future they deserve. Please do your part! Speak up and participate in policy-making -- in East Hills and elsewhere. Contact me for help -- Richard Brummel, rbrummel (AT) att (DOT) net. (1/2/13)

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.

East Hills, New York: October 30, 2012: Tree with decayed trunk knocked down in Hurricane Sandy.