Trees planted in Astoria using money from Con Edison

Michael Gianaris

Times Ledger reported on City Park Foundation's project to plant 850 new trees in Western Queens, funded by Con Edison. Senator Gianaris participated in this green intiative by planting trees on 27th Street.

Representatives of the City Parks Foundation and other nonprofits planted trees on and near the corner of 27th Street and 20th Avenue in Astoria Monday as part of an initiative to bring 850 new trees to western Queens in the next three years.

The trees are being paid for with $2 million of a larger settlement from the electric utility Con Edison as restitution for a major blackout in 2006 that left some residents in Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside without power for as long as 10 days.

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State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), who lost power for 10 days during the blackout, said the planted trees were a small comfort due to the damage from the blackout, but would improve the corner and block views of the nearby industrial facilities.

“Greening is always good,” he said. “It both beautifies the neighborhood and improves the environment.”

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