When this tree was cut..
I've lived in Miami for 7 years and overall enjoyed my experience until this year when a vicious assault on mature trees and green spaces was unleashed.
When this tree was cut down in my neighborhood my life changed. I had been calling the City for two weeks trying to find an answer about the status of the tree (construction equipment had been moved to the lot). When I finally got a call back from the Environmental Resources department I was told that the City has tree protections and one of this size should be relocated. The next day it was cut.
I made social media posts about the tree and quickly found community with other groups of people who have been in the battle to save Miami’s canopy for years, some of them decades. It was previously my naive understanding that Miami had tree protections in place because of a story of a friend who removed a tree on his property, got fined and had to replace it. Little did I know those rules only apply to some people and even with fine developers are happy to pay those fees versus the cost of relocating a tree. I would then find out that there is actually an entire Tree Trust Fund which is to be used to plant, and relocate trees. An audit of this fund found that the money has been mismanaged and not used in this regard. My illusions about Miami were quickly dissolving. I had always heard that this was a corrupt city being run by corrupt politicians but I had no idea the depths of misconduct.
Since then I have been involved in filing appeals to save trees, showing up at City Commission meetings, Climate Resilience meetings to do my part to save what few green spaces are left. In my research I found that there was another Banyan tree that was cut in 1955, one that residents were trying to save. In this article Casey Priket details the legacy of the tree which had survived fires, a previous storm to be barbarically cut by woodsmen against the wishes of the community:
They say time is cyclical not linear, that we are humans are due to keep repeating the same patterns over and over until we break particular behaviors and this gives proof to that theory. Funnily enough the author of the article and I were in the same meeting yesterday with a City Commissioner and developer calling to save one of the last remaining green spaces in Brickell—Allen Morris Park.
It is easy to lose hope especially when you find out this has been the code of conduct in Miami for decades. I meet climate activists in Miami who are tired, understandably so, but still fighting. While there are alleged codes like Chapter 17, Miami 21, the Miami Citizen’s Bill of Rights which are in place to preserve citizens rights to enjoy and protect the natural environment of the city, they are regularly abused. Social media has been an immensely valuable tool to get a temperature on how residents feel and I find solace in knowing that many are angry and want change. I hope a new wave of activists, residents, voters can be inspired and motivated to come out and force change. All anyone who lives here wants is an end to the tree removals, preserve the current parks, and halt the vicious construction schedule which involves every day a new parcel of land being built on. More concrete means more heat which eventually will lead everyone to leave this City.
Miami deserves leadership that have pride in the City and aren’t set out to destroy all green spaces and historic sites.
As with the Well of Ancient Mysteries the last original house in Brickell, where ancient artifacts have been found which is also a site covered in trees, this is under threat by foreign development group Leste Group (Lore Development). If leaders had pride in the City they would want to preserve the history and create spaces where residents can seek refuge from the scorching heat. It is unfortunate that the leadership in place now prioritizes developing every square inch of the city. There is already verified proof of temperatures rising, buildings sinking but it seems nothing will stop those in charge from allowing more developers to build unaffordable housing.
As Citizens become more empowered to use their voices and votes, I see a change. It may require direct actions, litigation but hope is all I have to keep me going. Currently in Miami there has not been one politician who is a true champion for the trees. While some say they are, their decisions paint a very different story.
Current there are some petitions going to fight back and I have a GoFundme account which has been used to file appeals to stop tree removals. These trials will begin July 21, none will be in August, the rest shall continue in September. There is currently a plan to removal 105 trees from Margaret Pace Park, the only park in Edgewater which is used by all members of the community daily. I have yet to received a response from Commissioner Damian Pardo’s office about the depth of the plans. While many of the trees are Palms there are 10 removals which are not, the work on this park could put it out of Commission in a time where temperatures are rising this is especially dangerous. While other cities such as New York are planting pocket forests Miami is building is reputation as a City which hates trees. Everyday there are more intended decisions that move us away from the 30% canopy goal.
For questions, comments, ways to get involved please email me lindsay@mimasroom.tv Follow me on social media for more updates: IG @mimasroomtv
Please sign the following petitions and considering donating to fight tree removals:
Email Commissioner Escalona about the Well of Ancient Mysteries: rescalona@miamigov.com
Email Damian Pardo about Margaret Pace Park: DPardo@miamigov.com
Email Mayor Higgins about climate injustice happening all over the City: mayor@miamigov.com
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