NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer faults city’s care of its trees
New York’s chief fiscal officer on Sunday accused his city of endangering residents by mismanaging the program to maintain the 650,000 trees lining streets.
Comptroller Scott Stringer says contractors hired to care for the urban greenery have pruned trees that didn’t need it and neglected those that required attention. There are also questions about charges and record-keeping.
“Tax dollars are wasted, property is damaged and, worst of all, people are sometimes injured or killed,” said Stringer, who held a news conference on a sidewalk in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. “Time and time again in four of the five boroughs, the Parks Department failed to properly manage the work done by private contractors.”