Somebody killed four trees on DeKalb Avenue. They may not be dead yet, but some person or persons stripped the bark off the trees all the way around, so they will surely die. This particular act of "arborcide" is especially hurtful to us because Mosholu Preservation Corporation, the nonprofit that publishes the Norwood News, owns a building right where the trees are. They are across the street from a Montefiore building and North Central Bronx Hospital and near to an area of trees planted by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. Many have been trying to make the block better for a long time.  

We know some folks just don’t like trees. They think they bring dog droppings or litter or they hide the signs on their storefronts. But this time the nearby landlord is us and, as Norwood News readers know, we love trees. We don’t really understand this behavior. If any of our readers know why someone would do this, please let us know. Trees provide everything from cooling shade to the air we breathe. Killing them hurts all of us. 

Killing trees is also a crime, as are other things most community residents consider abhorrent. Spitting on the sidewalk, throwing litter in the street, leaving your dog’s "droppings" behind for people to step on, are all against the law. As a group of people living in the same city neighborhood, we have rules that we are supposed to abide by (at least to avoid arguments). So, for the record: street trees are protected by law.  Just because the city sweeps each side of the street twice a week doesn’t mean it’s OK to throw litter in the street – or garbage out the window for that matter. And people with dogs are supposed to clean up what the dogs leave behind. 

These issues are among the most bothersome that we hear about in the neighborhood, so we have resolved to do something about them. In the coming months, expect to hear from us about ways we can make our neighborhoods more pleasant and less yucky. We will work with others throughout the Norwood News readership area as we have done on past graffiti, litter and beautification efforts. Please help. You live here too and you deserve a decent quality of life.