I have observed Providence’s east side for some time. Seeing it evolve slowly into something worse than it was has been both heartbreaking and very frustrating. It wasn’t long ago that a few years back, the neighborhood was littered with trees, where the community was active with their families outside, and where you could find various wildlife scurrying about. Over the years, new landlords have come and gone, often having new ideas for their property at the expense of greenery. It seems as the summer rolls around, one hears the chainsaws a short distance away.
Seeing this happen throughout the years, I have talked and wrote letters to landlords. The response I receive is generally that of ignorance, often citing the “annoying wildlife” and wanting grass or concrete in the trees stead. It wasn’t until September 3, 2022, that another nearby neighbor cut down all the trees in their yard. With several properties surrounding the apartment I’m in, in total, there is one remaining tree. I wager it won’t be long before that’s gone. What then? Well, this summer already brought about historic heatwaves and flooding both in the state and globally. And over the years, no one ventures outside on these streets anymore due to lack of tree cover and wildlife.
In response, I decided to flyer the neighborhood with the below letter. I genuinely hope that folks take heed and start to recognize the damage that is being done to our community.
Letter
Dear Property Owner / Resident / Community Member,
I have been a tenant and resident of Providence and have observed the east side for some time now. Over the years, I have grown more and more concerned about the removal of trees in this area. In many spots, single trees remain between several houses. When I look back just ten years ago, many were shared between neighboring properties and the streets as a whole. What happened?
The east side and its streets used to look a lot like Benefit Street. People would often walk their dogs, play with their children, be able to use their backyards under the shadows of trees, and enjoy the nature and wildlife that these streets offered. Now, if it’s warm outside, the lack of tree coverage makes it unwalkable and backyards uninhabitable. The wildlife has disappeared. Putting aside inflation and rent prices, property value has been lost. And lastly, local forms of pollution such as noise, air, and even the recent droughts and flooding could have been alleviated should due diligence be given to the greenery.
I have written to several of you folks, talked to some personally, but it appears taking the rational “talk it out approach” isn’t sufficient. I’ve heard a myriad of excuses. While some are legitimate (i.e., a tree is dying and / or potentially going to damage property), the bulk is frankly, a load of crock. Talking with most, reasoning stems from disliking wildlife to wanting grass instead. Does this sound reasonable? Let’s also not forget the common rotation of new landlords, of which they come in with different expectations, often at the expense of greenery.
If you’re a landlord, you can mostly do as you please to your property even at the risk of harm to others. But, for the love of whoever you pray to, please be more mindful. I get it, we’re highly Dunkin’ caffeinated New Englanders who don’t give a damn about each other and will fight the old hag who didn’t use their blinka’. Just, please, if you take a tree down, at minimum, plant another. Do it for yourself, your property, your children, and your neighborhood.
I want to live and frequent places where we actually care for one another. I foresee in just the next few years, there won’t have anything left. So I ask, is this what we want?
“Look, everyone here needs trees and you’re chopping them down! So, we’ve got a big problem.” – The Lorax
Regards,
A friend