Billy Crystal, Sen. Charles Schumer: Feds Should Pay To Replace Long Beach Trees Lost In Superstorm Sandy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Billy Crystal says Long Beach needs its trees back.
The actor, along with Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), called Monday for the federal government to foot the bill for replacing more than 2,500 trees lost in Superstorm Sandy, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
The "When Harry Met Sally" star recalled how there were so many trees in Long Beach when he was growing up there.
Billy Crystal, Sen. Charles Schumer: Feds Should Pay To Replace Long Beach Trees Lost In Superstorm Sandy
"What happened to our trees?" Crystal said. "Our family moved here in 1951, and it was the most beautiful place to grow up in. It still is for families now. And this is not a beautification project. This is something that we need."
As TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported, Schumer said it was Crystal who lobbied him to do something about all the beloved trees that were lost. They were poisoned by saltwater contamination from Sandy's floodwaters, and block after block has been left nearly barren.
"They're all gone," Crystal said. "All these beautiful sycamores that have been here for almost a hundred years – they're gone."
The city of Long Beach estimates 45 percent of its trees were destroyed by Sandy in October 2012.
Crystal's brother, Joel, still lives in Long Beach. He said he is still trying to salvage a tree on his own lawn.
"Just seeing the trees removed on blocks now just saddens you, because it took many decades for those trees to mature," Joel Crystal said.
All summer long, the city has been cutting down the dying trees, after experts concluded they would not survive. But city officials said replacing the trees would cost $2.5 billion – money it doesn't have.
The figure amounts to almost all of the city's budget.
"Forty-five percent of our trees were destroyed; 2,500 trees throughout Long Beach," said Long Beach City Manager Jack Schnirman. "And now we're calling on FEMA to do their job."
Schumer and Billy Crystal on Monday looked over some of the twisted remnants of trees that still need the stumps removed. Schumer said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has paid to replace the trees after hurricanes struck elsewhere.
"We're going to FEMA and saying: 'You've done it for Louisiana. You've done it for Florida. How about for Long Beach, New York?"
Crystal said he will not be satisfied without full funding.
"The whole $2.5 million must be funded federally, and I will not stop until that happens," Schumer said.
FEMA said it is reviewing the request for more money. Meanwhile, Long Beach city officials said they will use whatever money they have to begin replanting trees this fall.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban and Urban Development said the expenses sound eligible, and likely would be approved if requested by the state.
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