Benefits of planting trees, supporting police
Elected officials now need to support the police, too, a reader writes. Credit: James Carbone
New trees will give LI plenty of benefits
I embrace Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initiative to grow, distribute and plant trees to increase New York’s tree canopy. Newsday’s editorial board emphasized Long Island’s need for trees and provided a web link to satellite data showing tree canopy coverage by Long Island census tract [“Planting a grand idea,” Editorial, Feb. 25].
The data highlight the jarring disparity in the Nassau County average of 27% canopy cover compared to Suffolk’s 42%, with many Nassau communities having less than 15% canopy cover.
A Suffolk village official pessimistically responded to this initiative [“Planting trees is nice, but at what price?”, Letters, March 4]. The benefits of a dense canopy cover on infrastructure, physical and mental health, and climate change prevention undeniably outweigh the costs of planting or maintenance. Communities are poised to inherit these terrific benefits thanks to the current initiative of planting 25 million trees.
Today’s public officials must honor their duty to deliver and support beneficial infrastructure components and services to their communities. Trees are an essential part of the fabric of our communities, as vital as roads and stop signs.
Trees are our shared obligation. With concerted effort, these new trees will help us achieve a greener, healthier future for all Long Islanders.
— Philip Healey, Massapequa
The writer, Lynbrook Village’s superintendent of public works, is president of the state Urban Forestry Council.
Police deserve the plaudits they get
How refreshing to see a positive essay supporting police officers on Long Island and all over the country “Crisis of police recruitment, retention,” Opinion, March 12]. Our elected officials now need to support the police, too.
It is not an easy job, dealing with domestic issues, anger and death, including suicides. These things take a toll on them, and the last thing they need is to feel unappreciated and admonished for doing what they were hired to do.
— Nancy K. Nee, Holbrook
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