"D0 [abnormally dry] conditions were expanded this week to include more of eastern New York, northern New Jersey, and most of Connecticut." See the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic tab here: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home.aspx
Wherever possible/practical our trees should get supplemental watering; rainfall has been utterly inadequate this summer.

It's terrible that the city is losing not only recently planted trees (to be expected, as most of them are not watered) but trees as mature as the ones called out here. It's probably already too late for them--but adding my vote, there's an SOS that should go to some office or other in the city.

Many trees in the city are planted in bad soil, and the little rainfall that is allowed to seep into the little squares is not enough for the large root systems that trees have. Many trees are planted under telephone and electric cables, and many are planted in little holes in the sidewalk. They need not only water but also food. Most of the City is going downhill, the streets, sidewalks, various departments.. the only part that is kept up in the downtown area belongs to Yale. As important as the watering and feeding is to trim them properly so that the lower branches don't interfere with pedestrians and parked cars.
In past times there have been groups of citizen volunteers who do things like this, either personally together, or donating to hire some experts.

Another thing to look at is the tax base. A lot of people want services without paying the taxes for them, and some people pay taxes for them, but those taxes are used to line the pockets of the City employees , like department heads, like the Mayor. So check out and see if there is any money allotted for this purpose.

"In past times there have been groups of citizen volunteers who do things like this, either personally together". Actually they still do, e.g.: http://environment.yale.edu/uri/programs/community-greenspace/

yes, Christopher, you've been pretty active. The Freddy Fixer parade used to follow a weekend of volunteers cleaning up the Dixwell neighborhoods. A lot of people don't like to volunteer any more. Perhaps you could get a movement going.

"A lot of people don't like to volunteer any more." The Greenspace group I've led the past 6 summers was 95% neighborhood children--while adults sat and watched or asked "When will you be done?" then drove off, using me as a free babysitter. :( I've given up on the adults, but those kids are the future.

A group of volunteers (often dominated by young people) can plant a donated tree--and I applaud them, and URI, too, because they potentially transform the streetscape. Keeping trees alive is another matter. How, and from where, is water then brought or carried to maintain street trees? especially the many that aren't planted in front of a cooperating private residence? Along many blocks in the city this must be a city or university responsibility.

A group of volunteers can do almost anything. I managed a large community garden for two years. Community gardens are not as popular any more either. There are tank carts and tank trucks that can be hired, and used to be hired to maintain City owned plants. If volunteers don't do it then tax money must be used to pay someone to do it, but, people don't want to pay taxes for this. We can't have it both ways. If nobody is going to do it,, then let them die and chop them down and end of story.

We are closing this request due to its historic nature. If this concern still requires attention and you still believe SeeClickFix is a viable tool for its resolution the best way for it to be addressed is for you to create a new request including a current description of what is occurring and what solution you hope to see regarding this matter, citing/linking this request in the details. Thank you for your dedication to improving the quality of life in our community.