Shinjuku Ward is now attracting attention because it has the ability to stop the progress of the Jingu Gaien redevelopment project. This is because the Shinjuku Ward Mayor needs to grant permission to cut down trees, in accordance with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Landscape Preservation Area Ordinance.
The number of trees that the developers have applied to cut down is a whopping 3,000, far more than previously announced, and there has been a huge outcry. Nonetheless, it appears that the ward intends to give its approval. Moreover, these 3,000 trees are only a small portion of the total number of trees that will be cut down in the entire redevelopment of Jingu Gaien – it’s now speculated that the total number could be in the tens of thousands.
Furthermore, a surprising new fact came to light during yesterday's questioning during a meeting at the ward assembly. A change was made to the ward’s rules for the Landscape Preservation Area, in 2020, making it possible to approve cutting trees in the development area where previously it was not possible. This was done in secret, without any report to the city council or the City Planning Commission. This certainly looks fishy.
On February 22nd, when asked at a meeting of the ward assembly what would be the ward’s response to the developers’ application to cut down the trees, Mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi timidly refused to answer the question himself, but instead had a ward bureaucrat answer the question for him.
Like Governor Koike, Mayor Yoshizumi probably wants to act as if the approval of the Jingu Gaien redevelopment project has nothing to do with him, keeping his distance so as to avoid the political shrapnel. But we will not let him succeed with that!
Following up on last weekend's Twitter hashtag demonstration (good job, everyone!), today (Saturday, February 25, starting at 4 p.m. Japan Time), let's once again tweet, using the following two tweets.
＃新宿区は3000本の樹木伐採を許可するな ＃吉住区長は伐採しない英断を
Also please RT other tweets with these hashtag. You may also want to tag Yoshizumi's Twitter account in your tweets, @yoshizumi_ken.
Let’s keep up the pressure on Mayor Yoshizumi and Shinjuku Ward to make the right decision, and not approve the tree cutting.
And, if you have not yet sent your comments to Shinjuku City, please do so using one of these methods!
*Shinjuku Ward's opinion and inquiry page: https://www.faq.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/op/opinioninput.aspx
Mail: Public Hearing Section, Ward Administration and Information Division, Policy Planning Department, 1-4-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, 160-8484
FAX: 03-5272-5500
Phone: 03-3209-1111
FAX: 03-5272-5500