Tree project needs support of city

Editor, OBSERVER:

Has Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz not seen the forest for the Tree For Thee project? What happened to the mayor’s inaugural promise to embrace “fresh ideas” and “work together for the common good?” Why aren’t all the trees in the ground planted in their requested locations?

Mary Louise McGraw, lead volunteer of the project, has become the classic example of No Good Deed Shall Go Unpunished, starting with Nancy Nichols blast in the OBSERVER that McGraw announced the opening date a bit prematurely. The project still happened and nothing changed — except for the smoldering resentment among her supporters over this unnecessary, silly public embarrassment of micromanagement. What was the reason for doing that? What was gained?

Once upon a time Dunkirk was a thriving tapestry of privately owned stores and business embedded in brag worthy architecture. Then came Urban Renewal. Common Council went directly against the people, ruined everything, and got zero in return. And now here we are again, with the mayor’s “Urban Park Renewal” heading toward another fiasco, where her personal reasons to delay and prevent the planting of the remaining trees will snuff out the last ember of what was once Dunkirk, and once again, in direct opposition of what the people were promised, paid for, and want.

These aren’t just trees. It’s the voices of each tree. It’s a timeless salute to our past, it’s honoring our cherished loved ones and what they brought to the city; it’s the memories and countless stories of those golden years that we have told over and over to our friends and our children and grandchildren.

We all believed A Tree For Thee was our legacy. And it can be, if the mayor adheres to her promises and works with, not against, the Tree For Thee project.

SALLY YOUNG,

Yorktown, Va.