This Arbor Day is more than a celebration of trees and green spaces—it’s a call to action for bold, systemic change that uplifts communities too often overlooked in our borough and across our city.
We are at a critical moment as we await the release of the Mayor’s Executive Budget. Now is the time to demand that our city’s government fully fund our parks and ensure that our city’s streetscape and green spaces have trees planted and maintained in the neighborhoods that need them most.
I have proudly joined my fellow Borough Presidents and environmental advocates in the push for the planting of one million new trees across New York City over the next several years. However, that goal must come with a commitment to equity to ensure that neighborhoods in environmental justice areas receive their fair share of new investment. That’s why I am calling for a targeted investment in Bronx Community Boards 1 through 6, where tree coverage is disproportionately low and environmental harms are particularly acute.
In the Bronx, our trees are far more than just beautification—they are a lifeline. They provide essential shade during scorching summers, with the shade provided by trees able to drop street temperatures by up to 20 degrees. Furthermore, trees help to filter polluted air in neighborhoods overburdened by transportation and fossil fuel infrastructure and serve as a vital tool to build resilience and combat climate change.
With summer approaching, we must confront a harsh reality: heat will not just be uncomfortable, it will be deadly for many. Our elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of high heat, and we owe it to our seniors to make the investments necessary to ensure their safety. Additionally, Black and Brown New Yorkers are more likely to die from heat-related illness and are more likely to live in areas with lower levels of tree canopy coverage.
Even as The Bronx proudly claims the title of the Greenest Borough, we know there is much more work ahead to ensure every community benefits from clean, green, and safe outdoor spaces. The historical disinvestment that has plagued the South Bronx for decades must be confronted to ensure that our residents are safe and secure in their neighborhoods. It is not a coincidence that areas such as Hunts Point have both the lowest tree canopy coverage in our city and some of the highest heat vulnerability. Residents of the South Bronx deserve equitable treatment and investment, and I will continue to fight for more resources to be devoted to these communities.
As families across the Bronx head to parks and participate in Arbor Day activities, I encourage everyone to reflect on the deeper purpose of this day. Let’s celebrate by planting trees, yes—but also by standing together to demand environmental justice and greater investment in our neighborhoods.
