The Brookhaven City Council at its Feb. 10 meeting voted to authorize $172,000 to fund a variety of tree projects around the city.
Linda Abaray, the community development director for the city, said the funds will be used to add money for the popular front-yard tree program, install landscaping at the PEP building, plant native trees at several parks, including Blackburn Park and Ashford Park Preserve, and ecological restoration at Murphey Candler Park.
Council Member Jennifer Owens asked whether volunteers could be involved in the upcoming projects, which Abaray said will be done as soon as planting schedules have been finalized.
During council comments at the beginning of the meeting, District 4’s John Funny spoke passionately about Black History Month, which is celebrated in February, saying that this month’s activities should be about “not just honoring the past, but looking at the present.”
Funny said asking hard questions about the state of race relations is essential, along with “being willing to act on the answers.”
‘Let’s do more than commemorate – let’s participate, by supporting Black-owned businesses, and investing in equitable policies,” he said. “Black history IS American history, and we have the right and the duty to write the next chapter.”
In other action, the council introduced Cortez, a LifeLine Animal Project dog, who is available for adoption. Because of a special arrangement between the two entities, Brookhaven residents can adopt a pet at no charge, according to the announcement.
The council also:
- introduced Linda Warren as the city’s new human resources director;
- heard from Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley that crime statistics in January are down in most categories in a year-over-year comparison;
- scheduled its annual hazardous waste recycling event for March 7. Officials said more than 125 people have signed up for slots to date.
The council withdrew to executive session to discuss possible litigation matters, but did not take action after the meeting.