“It’s as if the government is asserting its authority over its residents,” commented Trayon White, the council member for Ward 8 in D.C., during a legislative meeting on June 6. Surprisingly, they weren’t discussing a proposed infrastructure project, but rather three linden trees on Xenia Street planted by D.C.’s Urban Forestry Division. In a city facing growing homelessness and a spike in violent crime, it was unexpected for a quarter of the council’s time to be dedicated to this tree debate.
White expressed concern about the potential impact on property values and a “reasonable fear” that once fully grown, the trees would hinder visibility and pose a safety risk. He urged his colleagues to support an emergency resolution for their removal. While a few council members acknowledged the benefits of expanding the tree canopy, no one questioned the underlying assumption that the community was opposed to these trees.
“We need to consider that these homeowners are worried about the value of their properties,” White emphasized. “I believe that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) can be more accommodating to the community’s requests. If they want different trees, I don’t see what the issue is.”
The council then deliberated the public-safety aspect of the matter. Councilman Kenyan McDuffie highlighted how, in his ward, trees were planted in parking spaces to avoid encroaching on narrow sidewalks. He echoed White’s concerns, questioning the level of consultation and engagement with affected communities. After 20 minutes of debate, the council chair expressed surprise at the amount of time spent discussing the removal of just three trees. Recognizing a lack of support, White withdrew the proposal, allowing the trees to remain.
What initially caught my attention was the disconnect between the council meeting’s rhetoric and the subject of discussion. How could a few trees endanger public safety or property values? Were these trees exceptionally unsightly? And who was driving White’s efforts to have them removed? Like many government stories, this seemingly trivial controversy revealed deeper power dynamics and the justifications people use when wielding it.
Xenia Street, located in Ward 8, stands apart from the rest of D.C., physically separated by the Anacostia River. It is predominantly Black and faces higher rates of unemployment, lower labor-force participation, and increased poverty compared to the rest of the city. The census tract encompassing Xenia Street is among the most heat-sensitive areas in D.C., indicating a higher prevalence of health issues such as asthma, coronary heart disease, and disability, in addition to reflecting racial demographics and income. D.C.’s Urban Forestry Department, a division of DDOT, planted the trees to replace local ash trees affected by a beetle infestation. A senior official revealed the department’s concern regarding the unequal distribution of tree canopy across different wards. As of June, Ward 8 had around 500 pending requests for new tree plantings, while higher-income Ward 4 had nearly 6,000 requests.
Tree planting, unlike major infrastructure projects, doesn’t trigger the same level of notification and community input. However, as Kay Armstead, a former member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, explained, the city did inform the commission about plans to introduce more trees to the neighborhood. In fall 2020, 35 trees, including American linden and apple trees, were planted on publicly owned land between two condominium buildings on Xenia Street.
Curious to see the trees myself, I visited the residential street on three separate occasions after White’s resolution. I approached people and inquired about their thoughts on the trees. Interestingly, no one I interviewed had strong opinions or even heard about the controversy.
One resident of 450 Condon Terrace immediately diverted my attention to a sizable hole in the parking lot caused by a garbage truck. Another resident wanted to discuss trash pickup issues rather than the trees. When I asked about the trees, he seemed confused and simply replied, “They’re oxygen!” He laughed at the notion that the trees could encourage crime, questioning who would hide underneath them.
So, who exactly constitutes the “community” opposing these trees? His name is Darryl Ross.
Ross has been involved in local politics for many years and serves as the treasurer for the Ward 8 Democrats and White’s constituent-services fund. Some critics have called the fund a “slush fund.” When White mentions constituent outreach on this issue, he refers to Ross. Ross no longer lives on Xenia Street but owns a unit in one of the buildings that he rents out. He is also the president of the Xenia Condominium Owners Association.
From the moment the trees were planted, Ross harbored anger. He was irate that the neighborhood hadn’t been informed about the project and couldn’t comprehend why the city believed it made sense to place 35 trees (“a forest!”) on the street. Additionally, he anticipated future costs that the trees might impose on residents.
His requests to remove the trees through the city’s 311 system went unanswered. He reached out to officials at DDOT and the Urban Forestry Department, as well as White and several other council members, the office of the inspector general, and current and former members of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Ross acknowledges that his connections played a role in gaining attention. “Believe me, I’m leveraging everything I can to achieve the desired outcome,” he told me.
In August 2021, representatives from DDOT, White’s chief of staff, and a senior staffer for Council Member Anita Bonds met with Ross and a few residents at the site. They agreed to remove 14 out of the 35 newly planted trees. Additionally, a lighting survey was conducted, resulting in the installation of three large streetlights to address crime concerns using data-driven approaches.
A senior official from the Urban Forestry department stated, “We desire to compromise with this individual to ensure that we are doing things for people, not to them.” They added, “If we can appease someone and foster a sense of ownership… that’s how you make someone more of an ally.”
However, Ross remained unsatisfied. He continued his campaign to remove three more trees, specifically those closest to his condo building’s walkway. He lodged a complaint with D.C.’s Office of the Inspector General, leading to a response from DDOT Director Everett Lott, who argued that the department had followed all regulations regarding tree planting and had even surpassed the requirement for public notification. Undeterred, Ross persisted, culminating in White’s emergency resolution at the city council meeting in June.
Ross connected me with a few of his allies, who, like the random residents I encountered, were minimally informed about the situation at hand. Some of them were unaware that several trees had already been removed, while others weren’t even aware of the controversy itself.
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