Bensonhurst residents object to New York City's tree planting plan over cultural impact
BENSONHURST, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A New York City effort to plant more trees is facing opposition in Brooklyn's Bensonhurst neighborhood, where members of the Chinese American community say they were not consulted about the placement of new trees and are concerned about the impact on feng shui.
Residents object to markings for new tree wells that have been placed in front of some homes. They say the planned locations could interfere with beliefs about energy flow and personal fortune.
"You cannot plant right directly in front of someone's home. Basically, we believe that's going to stop the good energy coming in, bad for the health," Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang said.
Bensonhurst is home to a large Chinese American population, and residents say the locations were laid out without warning or input from the community. They contend that the new trees could disrupt the neighborhood's feng shui.
"Right here, they want to plant a tree right in front of people's entrance," Zhuang said.
"They can block the people, the personal luck," another resident said.
Zhuang said she hopes city officials will work with the community on alternative locations for the trees.
"We also want to work with the Parks Department, find better location," Zhuang said.
She also emphasized the importance of respecting cultural traditions.
"That's Chinese culture. It's 5,000 years transfer to today," one resident said.
As the city moves forward with its tree-planting efforts, residents and local leaders are urging officials to consider community concerns and cultural beliefs when determining where new trees will be planted.
The Parks Department told Eyewitness News they met with Councilmember Zhuang to discuss the issue, and look forward to working with her and members of the community to "accommodate community concerns while ensuring we fulfill our mandate to expand the City's urban tree canopy."
They released a statement saying, "Trees are a vital part of a healthier, more resilient city, and we're undertaking an ambitious effort to plant new trees in every possible corner of the city. Trees cool our streets, filter our air, and absorb stormwater, and they are among the most affordable and accessible tools we have to adapt to a changing climate. The cityrecently launched the Urban Forest Plan, an ambitious roadmap for preserving our existing tree canopy, planting more trees citywide, and cultivating local stewardship."
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