"They're both now resting against the building behind me, and in a very precarious position that seems like they could fall," Bell said. "And if they do, they would fall in our backyard."
The situation has kept both businesses closed since Sunday.
"I don't feel that it's safe for our team to be working in these conditions," Bell said.
According to Bell, removing the trees requires a crane, and the businesses are waiting for the neighboring landlords responsible for the trees to have the work done.
"We're at the mercy of our neighboring landlords to get this tree removed," he said. "The process is taking a while because they have to have a crane to extract the tree."
Bell said he hopes the removal happens soon, though PDT and Crif Dogs will remain closed.
In the meantime, he has launched a GoFundMe to help employees with wages lost during the closure. Bell said 100% of the money raised will go to the staff.
"This week has been uncertainty for them," he said. "I know how important it is to be able to show up to work and make money, especially at the end of the month."
Bell, who said he spent 15 to 20 years of his life as a tipped employee, closed his message with an appeal on behalf of the staff.
"This is not easy. This is not fun," he said. "I don't like to go hat in hand, but I will go hat in hand for the team."
9 comments:
Sorry to hear this news - waiting for Landlords to do something? Timeless
I was working in a Times Square club in 1998 when a crane from a building being built on the block had crushed into the hotel across the street. Our block and the club were shut down for 6 weeks. That was 6 weeks without any income, any resources, ages before crowd funding. I just lived on the little savings I had, until that went dry and the club reopened.
"waiting for Landlords to do something?"
Actually its NYC Parks Dept.
I live on the same block with a rear facing apartment. They removed 5 trees of the same size during the past year. First 2, then later 3. No crane needed.
Trees on private property (ie the backyards of neighboring buildings) are the responsibility of landlords not parks dept.
But maybe because they could climb the trees and chainsaw them from the top little by little? If the tree is resting on a building, it requires a different approach
All they need is a professional tree pruning service. We've had 3 huge tress completely removed from backyards on 9th st between first and A. Skilled workers climb the trees with chainsaws, secure and cut branches one by one. Then they cut them into smaller pieces and bring them out front to a mulcher. Just need a professional tree surgeon service
WHAT!! The Parks Department ONLY cuts trees on streets or in the Parks
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Carlina Rivera! Who better to call when you want to get rid of trees
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