Palm trees spark row between local authorities in Bucharest

An initiative from Bucharest’s District 3 City Hall to plant palm trees in Unirii (Union) Square in downtown Bucharest has prompted a row between it and the General City Hall. The latter recently announced that the palm trees were planted illegally, lacking appropriate permits, and removed them.

Two days ago, the mayor of District 3, Robert Negoiță, stated that palm trees, "these wonderful plants that we like so much and that we always pose with whenever we travel abroad,” will be planted in Unirii Square, at the very center of the capital. He claimed that the palm trees were acclimatized and would withstand the winter and that they cost "up to RON 1,000 (EUR 202) per piece."

Shortly after, Bucharest City Hall, led by mayor Nicușor Dan, had the palm trees extracted and removed. Workers from the Administration of Lakes, Parks and Recreation Bucharest (ALPAB) did so without causing any damage to the trees.

Mayor Dan argued that District 3 City Hall has long encroached on areas of the capital that are not under its administration.

"On Saturday, May 13, at the instruction of the mayor general, the Local Police halted the palm tree planting operation. This action was carried out illegally, without the approval of the road administrator (Bucharest Streets Administration). We mention that District 3 City Hall rearranged the area without having the proper legal documents," said the Bucharest City Hall in a press release cited by Profit.ro.

In response, District 3 mayor Robert Negoiță stated that landscaping work was being done in the Unirii Square area and mentioned that several trees had been planted.

At one point, while talking to a passerby, the mayor of District 3 said: "Nicușor Dan doesn't let us, he blocked us. […] The palm trees are acclimatized plants, and the specialists assure us that they will live, and they will survive even during the winter. They can handle temperatures down to minus 15, even minus 20 degrees Celsius. When was the last time it was minus 20 degrees in Bucharest? Let's be serious, the weather has changed, and when we look at the balance, we realize that the risk of going below minus 10 degrees is minimal. And even if it happens, we will protect them, we can come and wrap them up because we know that a cold wave is coming, we will wrap them up for a week, two weeks, three weeks, whatever is needed."

The District 3 mayor added that these palm trees "cost up RON 1,000 per piece," including transportation and VAT and that there are guarantees that if any of them die, it will be replaced with a healthy plant.