It is a sturdy as an oak because it is an oak. It is a 100-year-old oak tree located in front of the residence at 190 Somerset Ave. Attached to the tree is a list of four other trees slate to be felled.
The three other trees in question are unhealthy and need to be removed for safety reasons. The sturdy oak, however, does not belong on that list.
The tree is valued at more than $6,675, and considering that Winthrop has allocated funding for tree removal, but insufficient funding for a tree replacement, the tree is not likely to be replaced. Even if it were, it will take up to 20 to 30 years for a tree to grow to this size and provide the canopy effect this one does.
At its ripe old age, it is a revered public asset and a treasure that brings value to the community. For it to be removed to benefit one residence for the purpose of landscaping, is an injustice to residents who have made Winthrop their home for their entire lives.
Winthrop needs to improve its tree canopy to create safe and healthy natural spaces for its thriving coastal community. This community is located a mere 1.68 miles from Logan Airport, and trees remove carbon dioxide, sulfur, carbon monoxide and supply oxygen for one day for up to four people.
In 2018, the MA Department of Energy Green Communities Division awarded Winthrop a Green Community grant in the amount of $247,554 to reduce energy use and fund clean energy projects. Considering that trees provide a 12 percent annual reduction in energy expenditures and decrease the use of air conditioning by 50 percent, one would think that maintaining the tree canopy would be a priority.
And all the town needs to do to obtain that 12 percent is to stop removing healthy trees like this one and the three that were recently removed from Winthrop Center.
A Tree Committee hearing to discuss the removal of this tree at 190 Somerset and other trees at 48 Birch Road, 5 Elliot Street, and 214 Court Road will take place tonight, June 7th at 7:00 PM by zoom.
Residents are encouraged to attend. Tree huggers are urgently needed!
The agenda is attached and the information to the meeting is:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85046924670?pwd=czJ3TnVFdmttckx2dnZoYUh3NVl2dz09
Meeting ID: 850 4692 4670
Passcode: 137041