The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Dul-Sayin’ - Why Low-Income Neighborhoods Have Fewer Trees

Episode Date: April 9, 2022

If you live in a low-income neighborhood, trees are harder to find than an employee restroom at an Amazon fulfillment center. Dulcé Sloan reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. Trees. They've been throwing shade for millions of years, mostly from the sun. Although, you should hear what they said about your man. But chances are, if you live in a low-income neighborhood, trees are harder to find than an employee restroom at an Amazon fulfillment center. Although, you should hear what they said about your man. the chances are the truth. Why you ask? Come on. You know, you. You, you. You, you. You, you. You, you. You, you. You, you. You know, you. You, you. You know, you. You know, you. You know, you. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. the answer. th. tho. tho. the. thea. tooooooooooooooooooooooo. to. the. the. to find than an employee restroom at an Amazon Fulfillment Center. Why you ask?

Come on. You know the answer? Stay it with me. Racism! In 92% of U.S. communities, low-income neighborhoods have less tree coverage than high-income neighborhoods. In parks, serving low-income households are four times smaller and four times more crowded. Sounds a lot like my first apartment in New York. My dishwasher was literally a dishwasher.

I could only clean them one at a time. And I know what you're thinking. Dolesay, don't people choose where they live? Isn't green space random? How do you keep your eyebrows so popping? These are all great questions. First of all, the disparity in tree coverage is, thi thi thi thi thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thiatisn, thiate, thiate, thiate, thiate all, my mama. Second, the disparity in tree coverage isn't random. It's connected to a racist practice called redlining, which

began in the 1930s. Redlining made it almost impossible for black people to get a home loan approved in white neighborhoods, which led to residential segregation and a wealth gap between black and white families bigger than Little Niles X's baby bump. And because poor black neighborhoods were poor and black, cities didn't want to waste resources on them. And that included trees and parks. That effect is still felt today. In 37 cities around the country, formerly redlined neighborhoods have about half as many trees on average as the highest rated predominantly white neighborhoods. Basically, the only trees that some hoods have will get you two to ten years. And you might be thinking, so what?

Poor minority neighborhoods don't have as many trees. What's the worst that could happen? Y'all don't have enough housing for Kiva'ils? But actually, it makes a big difference in a lot of ways. For one thing, a lack treen tto heat and lots of it. Studies have found that almost all of the formerly redlined neighborhoods are hotter than the ones that weren't. Some by like 13 degrees. Now 13 degrees may not seem like a lot, but that's two totally different lifestyles. At 80 degrees, you're enjoying the pool. At 93 degrees, you are a pool. Sparse tree cover disproportionately affects communities of color and translates into higher rates of respiratory illness,

including childhood asthma, hospitalizations, and even debts. This is such a crisis I wouldn't even mind getting more stuff in the hood that used to be trees. I mean, let's stack some loose leaf paper on the corner and see if that helps. And while communities of color are the most impacted by all this, adding more trees and parks would benefit everyone, because trees might not look like big-ass air filters, but that's exactly what they are and what they do. Just think of a park as being full of dice and air purifiers. Not to mention that green spaces help regulate floodwaters and even reduce crime. Because. Because. Because. Because. tres. tres. tree. tree. tree. tree. tree. tree. tree. tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree trees, trees, trees, and trees, and trees, tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree tree trees, trees, trees trees trees, trees trees, trees, trees, trees trees, trees, trees, trees, trees, tifiers. Not to mention that green spaces help regulate floodwaters and even reduce crime. Because it's pretty hard to be in a gang when you have a bunch of parks nearby.

How are you going to be tough during the fall? Like, hey man, I want to pick up that nine. But the leaves are changing. It's so pretty. Yo, let's go pick some apples! So the next time you see a vacant lot or empty plot of land in your city, ask yourself, why isn't there a part there? Better yet ask your local official. Because we need more trees and urban spaces.

Starting with my apartment. I'm going to get one one way or another. Because that Dyson? Too expensive. Watch the Daily Show, weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus. This has been a Comedy Central podcast.