I use the title “Lion in the streets” as a metaphor to draw attention to the fact that we are in danger again — and not from the four-legged beasts of the jungle that we all recognize as dangerous — but to the danger of our own planting because here we go again with a new initiative to turn South Philly green and to plant more trees on the sidewalks.
I had thought it was common knowledge and understood that the sidewalks cannot hold a tree because the walkways are too narrow and the tree will be too close to the foundation of a house. I understand the concept of a tree-lined street. It’s a vision that we all had back in the 1970s. it was just a dream that soon turned into a nightmare.
People got sick from the fungus and mold spores coming from the growth on the trees. Foundations and pipes got cracked. The people that fought those battles are now in nursing homes or moved on to the so-called better place. The new homeowners have no knowledge of what that generation went through trying to save their houses. So let me say it again, kill a tree, save your house and community. Don’t let the lions eat the front or the back of your homes.
To the Editor:
Perhaps citizens of Pennsylvania may take some assurance that the destructive and dangerous federal health legislation will be thwarted by the actions of State Attorney Tom Corbett in conjunction with at least a dozen other states to defend citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms through the judiciary. The state’s legislature should too stand with the people.
Hopefully, Corbett also has taken steps to secure the states polling places so Pennsylvanians are not disenfranchised by lawless organizations in upcoming elections. There is also a great concern about the work of scientist Michael Mann, who worked out of Penn State University advancing his man-made global warming theories and who has been accused of falsifying data.
The Environmental Protection Agency subjects our employers to restrictions based on such data and has caused much job loss in our tin and steel press shops across Pennsylvania that depend on auto parts contracts. The anti-coal movement also is propelled by these theories that have in recent months been the subject of much exposure in the British press. We are a state abundant in coal resources. Coal powers about half of our nation’s electrical energy. We need responsible, courageous and righteous men and women in government and we need citizens to encourage them.
The EPA is today acting as a lawless agency. That is, it is acting with no authority of law to interfere with Americans and the acquisition and use of coal resources for their needs. Laws should serve the interest of the people, not special interest groups and politicians. The EPA attacks all citizens through its attacks on our businesses that provide us with our daily needs. It threatens us and our businesses with IRS agents and the security forces of our own United States Department of Justice.
To the Editor:
Article:
Right angle
Article:
A crippling situation
Article:
The corner hangers’ club
Article:
Cheers to The Capistrano
Article:
Sentencing education
Article:
A quick fix
Article:
A week for the meek
Article:
An important investment
1. Michael o said... on Apr 15, 2010 at 11:35AM
“Mr barnes is wrong. A tree will not in fact hurt a homes foundation. The tree roots cannot grow through a properly built and maintained foundation.It is physically impossible A tree will aid in keeping your foundation dry by drinking a lot of rain water. Cement sidewalks need to be replaced because cement is not forever. The trees did not do this damage. The trees planted in Philadelphia do not spread mold spores and fungus. If they did, we would see wide spread tree death in our city. A tree will cut your air conditioner cost and also is necessary for oxygen replenishment. A tree and home is work. Are you just not wanting to clean up after your friend the tree?”
2. Christine said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 09:51AM
“Mr. Barnes has apparently never been to other cities, or even other neighborhoods of Philadelphia where street trees are thriving and helping to clean the air, absorbing rainwater and providing cool shade.
South Philly needs more trees to make our neighborhoods cleaner, healthier and safer. We need less of people like Barnes who complain without any facts.”
3. chaloots said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 01:20PM
“I like to see trees just as much as the next guy, for their beauty and the environment. But trees and their roots do cause damage. The lady behind me had to remove a tree because it was destroying her yard and the foundation of the back of her house. The house across the street has a tree and the pavement and street have bulges and cracks from the roots. The step near that tree is lifting up and there is a crack running up the front wall of the house. My next door neighbor had to have her tree removed because it was wrapped around her gas line. These are all facts in favor of Mr. Barnes opinion. But I am in favor of having trees, just ones that don't have roots that grow so big. I know, the Bonsai Tree! South Philadelphia can become the Bonsai Tree Capital of the Western World. Just a thought.”
4. Anonymous said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 04:01PM
“The Benefits of Trees
THE BENEFITS OF TREES
Studies prove that trees have a positive effect on many aspects of people's lives, including their health, homes, businesses, communities, drinking water, and air quality.
Economic Contributions
• Research shows that shoppers in well-landscaped business districts are willing to pay more for parking and up to 12% more for goods and services.27
• Landscaping, especially with trees, can significantly increase property values. Here is one example: A value of 9% ($15,000) was determined in a U.S. Tax Court case for the loss of a large black oak on a property valued at $164,500.12
• Trees reduce runoff and erosion from storms by about 7% and reduce the need for
erosion control structures. In urban areas with trees, the use of smaller drainpipes can save cities money on materials, installation and maintenance.11
• Desk workers with and without views of nature were surveyed. Those without views of nature, when asked about 11 different ailments, claimed 23% more incidence of illness in the prior 6 months.6
• Amenity and comfort ratings were about 80% higher for a tree-lined sidewalk compared with those for a nonshaded street. Quality of products ratings were 30% higher in districts having trees over those with barren sidewalks.28
• In the US over 200 million yds3 of urban tree and landscape residue are generated every year.26 Of this 15% is "unchipped logs." If these logs were sawn into boards, they could produce 3.8 billion board ft of lumber, or nearly 30% of the hardwood lumber produced annually in the United States.1
Energy Conservation
• The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.20
• Trees properly placed around buildings as windbreaks can save up to 25% on winter heating costs.5
• As few as three trees properly positioned can save an average Illinois household about 6.5% of annual heating and cooling costs, or between $100 and $250.23
• Fifty million shade trees planted in strategic, energy-saving locations could eliminate the need for seven 100-megawatt power plants.10
• Shade from two large trees on the west side of a house and one on the east side can save up to 30% of a typical residence's annual air conditioning costs.17
• Annual benefits provided by parking lot trees in Sacramento, California, (8.1% tree shade) were valued at approximately $700,000 for improved air quality. By increasing shade to 50% in all parking lots in Sacramento, the annual benefits will increase to $4 million.9
• Rows of trees reduce windspeed by up to about 85%. Dense rows are most effective. Because even a single row of dense conifers significantly reduce windspeed, windbreaks can be effective on relatively small house lots.4
• Compared with an open area, a good windbreak that does not shade the house will save about 15% of the heat energy used in a typical home.4
Environmental Contributions
• Modest increases of 10% canopy cover in the New York City Area were shown to reduce peak ozone levels by up to 4 parts per billion or by nearly 3% of the maximum and 37% of the amount by which the area exceeded its air quality standard. Similar results were found in Los Angeles and along the East Coast from Baltimore to Boston.8
• Leafy tree canopies catch precipitation before it reaches the ground, allowing some of it to gently drip and the rest to evaporate. This lessens the force of storms and reduces runoff and erosion. Research indicates that 100 mature tree crowns intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year, reducing runoff and providing cleaner water.25
• Trees reduce noise pollution by absorbing sounds. A belt of trees 98 feet wide and 49 feet tall can reduce highway noise by 6 to 10 decibels.13
• Trees in Davis, California, parking lots reduced asphalt temperatures by as much as 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and car interior temperatures by over 47 degrees Fahrenheit.16
• Philadelphia's 2.1 million trees currently store approximately 481,000 metric tons of carbon with an estimated value of $9.8 million.14
• A typical community forest of 10,000 trees will retain approximately 10 million gallons of
rainwater per year.24
Social Contributions
• Views of nature reduce the stress response of both body and mind when stressors of urban conditions are present.15
• Trees in urban parks and recreation areas are estimated to improve outdoor leisure and recreation experiences in the United States by $2 billion per year.3
• Trees reduce crime. Apartment buildings with high levels of greenery had 52% fewer crimes than those without any trees. Buildings with medium amounts of greenery had 42% fewer crimes.7
• Hospital patients recovering from surgery who had a view of a grove of trees through their windows required fewer pain relievers, experienced fewer complications, and left the hospital sooner than similar patients who had a view of a brick wall.21, 22
• Americans travel about 2.3 billion miles per day on urban freeways and highways. Studies show drivers exposed to roadside nature scenes had a greater ability to cope with driving stresses.29
• Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children are relieved after contact with nature. Specifically, ADHD kids are better able to concentrate, complete tasks, and follow directions after playing in natural settings. The greener the setting, the more relief.18
• Trees help girls succeed. On average, the greener a girl's view from home, the better she concentrates and the better her self-discipline, enabling her to make more thoughtful choices and do better in school.19
• Trees and forests in urban areas convey serenity and beauty along a number of sensory dimensions, often surrounding the individual with nature in an environment where natural things are at a premium.2”
5. mb said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 04:07PM
“Though I don't know the specific statistics about the damage that sidewalk trees cause to house foundations, gas pipes, and the like, I can see Mr. Barnes point of view. Frankly he's entitled to it. If he doesn't want a tree in front of his house, that's fine. I'm not going to be the one to force him to plant one. However, I disagree (and chuckle a bit) about the fact that trees are a "danger" to neighborhoods. The tree we have in front of our house has single-handedly beautified our home and our street and made our block a pleasure to live on. The more trees the merrier, in fact, I hope to volunteer some time next weekend to put a few more in the ground!”
6. ke said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 04:49PM
“why is it that in all of Philadelphia, only the people of South Philly are anti tree!! Trees clean our air! lower cooling costs in the summer, and are proven that neighborhood with trees have a reduced crime rate! OH I AM SOO SORRY THAT TREE IS PROVIDING YOU WITH OXYGEN!!! I'll tell it not to provide you with any, only the people that like trees....no really, this is absurd. EVERYTHING in life needs maintenance.”
7. Jennifer Miller said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 09:39PM
“My gorgeous deciduous tree keeps my home cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter and helps shelter me from the rain. Trees provide shade for children to play on hot summer days and sound like ocean waves when they blow in the wind. Not to mention that trees increase property value.
My nightmare is to live up a street with no trees so I can see the true beasts of this city - TRASH, NOISE POLLUTION and AIR POLLUTION.
So for every neighbor who cuts down a tree , I hope there is a neighbor who will plant a tree because my dream is to live up a tree lined street. This is my vision for 2010.
”
8. thom j barnes said... on Apr 17, 2010 at 07:48AM
“To: Michael O --- Tree roots can and will crack the foundation of a house; in spite of what you think, it's all-ready been proven. Nothing last forever, in cluding cement sidewalks; but the idea is to make them last as long as possible... The fungus spores and pollen don't kill people, it just makes them sick, It's the medicine that kills you, HA Ha Ha.
To; Christine--- I've been to other cities thru out the world... I was trained to be a (Quartermaster,) a Natural Resource Specialist by the United States Army; I know how we are suposed to live... I will say this to you and hope for understanding... Cities are not supposed to have (free running) water under them for the betterment of a tree... the water causes the soil to wash away under the city and makes it collapse...
To: Chaloots-- Good Observation.
Will be continued on another page.”
9. Margaret said... on Apr 17, 2010 at 01:53PM
“Trees can destroy homes. My aunt had a tree in her back alley way, it was 13 feet from the house. It grew up under her kitchen foundation, thru the floor. The city claimed no resposibility for damages. It cost her a small fortune to remove and rebuild. In spite of it all we still love trees, and its benefits.”
10. Anonymous said... on Apr 19, 2010 at 09:52AM
“As a result of the concerns with trees in streets, there have been strides made in the construction of the tree pit. These new pits look like the ones used in the South Street renovation. They are made differently to fix the problems we have seen. We have learned so much since street tree planting began.
The person who posted the statistics is on point. The studies here have been repeated many times in many cities with the results being the same: increased property value for the whole street as well as creating a closer-knit sense of community at the same time, we see a decrease in crime, energy costs and stress.
I understand your concerns, at the same time I do not want to overlook the significant contributions trees make to a neighborhood. The changes that have been made in tree selection and tree pit construction really do address your concerns.”
11. tom j. Barnes said... on Apr 22, 2010 at 01:47PM
“There is no such thing as a tree pit... it's just another name for a hole that a sapling is put into...you have all these statistics of what happened in other cities... We had a fray in South Philadelphia that is not quite finished let.. There was battle with the family Ailanthus, the tree of heaven, look at the battle scars(the empty lots) where houses once stood... This is what you get when trees are in the community... We don't need them on the side walks in the yards or alleyways... Premature births- lung problems- lost houses-dirt-peeling paint-termites... What must I say to shut you up???
South Philadelphia in not a (lumber Yard.) UNDERSTOOD!!!”
12. Thomas J. Barnes said... on Apr 25, 2010 at 07:20AM
“Yo! anonymous: Did you catch the channel 3 news this morning at 6 oclock? They confirmed what I had been saying about the fungus growing on the trees causing lung problems. They even showed what it looked like. it's an ugly creature, looked somthing like a snail with-out the shell. You write like one in authority, but trying to convince people to do the wrong things... How about coming over to the right side and help the people...”
13. Thomas j Barnes said... on Apr 26, 2010 at 11:04AM
“It sure is quiet out there. What no words? Ok, to Christine- Look up the word (fungus) on your machine, read it and then call me, to watch you hug your tree, you know the one with the mould growing on it.... How about you mb...Do you want to take a ride with me, so that I might point out the destruction that I see from the root growth.. How about you Ke...Do you know what toxic air is? Bad Oxygen. filled with strychine-Arsenic-tannen. To Jennifer Miller: Your house has no value when the wall is cracked... noise reduction your butt. Come on and talk to me, so that we can get South Philly strightened out; get the crap out of the alleys and off the side-walks .,.. talk to me.”
14. Anonymous said... on May 7, 2010 at 01:44PM
“Yo, T.J.! Trees are definitely killers! I hate the oxygen they produce!
Seriously, why does the review even print these type of crank letters? If I want to read the National Enquier, I'll buy it!”
15. Thomas J. Barnes said... on May 9, 2010 at 07:26AM
“I was wondering where you were, I love a good discussion, especially when I know more than anyone one else, it makes me feel complacement... So you think that trees clean the air of all impurities and just give out pure oxygen, Huh. where did you get your understanding? Have you ever heard of carbon monoxide? it comes from the burning of fuel, like gasoline and coal, it's called fossil fuel; it's all mixed in the air that we breath; a tree can't clean it out of the air... May-be you should go into your garage, close the door, crank that car up, and just sit there... Trees destroy lives and property; You see I understand that (YOU) people want our land here in South Philly, but you have to wait untill God sorts things out... t”
16. R said... on Jul 7, 2010 at 11:35AM
“Wow, Thom Barnes, you are one crazy dude. Did a tree fall on your head? Funny thing was, I read this letter while relaxing on a tree-lined South Philly street.”
17. Thomas J. Barnes said... on Jul 10, 2010 at 07:17AM
“Enjoy your self... We have all done it, at one one time or another... But let me say this to you, so that there be some understanding;------------------------- (Arrogance and Trees both fall)... Welcome to South Philly-------------------- (MY HOME TOWN)...”
18. Thomas J. Barnes said... on Jul 10, 2010 at 07:20AM
“Enjoy your self... We have all done it, at one one time or another... But let me say this to you, so that there be some understanding;------------------------- (Arrogance and Trees both fall)... Welcome to South Philly-------------------- (MY HOME TOWN)...”
19. Thomas J. Barnes said... on Jul 13, 2010 at 11:43AM
“Black listed by Anna Verna for trying to keep a roof over the heads of the people. It's insane to me that the power that run this city, want to create a (Slum), "using trees" to destroy the housing that we have... Give us a break Anna, We will never find jobs again... Where are we going to live, if you take what houses we have left??? I beg you for mercy on behalf of the people...Pass my message on, OK-- Anonymous???”
20. pete kourahanis said... on Jul 19, 2010 at 10:46PM
“i was born and raised on 13th wharton (minus a few yrs) i was the first person to plant a tree right before all "you" people arrived. some old timers where shocked at what i did. i also planted flower boxes and flowers in front of my house. the reaction was as if an alien decended upon the neighborhood. i also was the ONLY person who actually had the nerve to sweep the trash in the hood that the trees did not create by the way. since i have a personal insight to the mentality of some of our long time neighbors. lack of ability to change is why south philly went down hill not trees or any other "type" of people. this thick headed, sometimes un intelligent thought process. THINGS CHANGE, just look at your wives!”