On the Issues

There are over 12,000 trees that are maintained by the City of Newark. These trees provide shade, mitigate the effects of climate change, provide physical and mental health benefits, and increase property values. I supported bringing forward the City of Newark’s first Urban Forest Master Plan to look at all of these trees and find ways to improve Newark’s tree canopy. The Urban Forest Master Plan is currently reviewing the results of the public comment period to draft the plan, which should come to the City Council next year.

I would like to see us make this analysis readily available to the public. Some cities in Alameda County have maps that identify trees within the city’s boundaries with information about the species of tree and its ownership. As much of this analysis will be done as part of the Urban Forest Master Plan, I would like Newark to publish a similar map.

There is also evidence that trees help support retail viability, but Newark’s main shopping centers are currently ringed by concrete parking lots without any trees. Incentivizing property owners to grow trees near our City’s shopping centers, especially NewPark Mall, could have the effect of making them spaces that Newark residents want to spend more of their time.

We can only benefit from our investment in trees if we maintain them. Proper maintenance of our City’s trees is also important for public safety: trees that are not maintained could fall and cause serious problems.

If re-elected I will advocate strongly for initiatives that will expand our community’s tree resources and help maintain our urban canopy.