Remarks by John Trasviña
308 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 9 of 13
- Play at 34:23
“I'm sorry, can you speak up and say that again?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 34:33
“Well, perhaps we should continue this matter because the department, you and your expertise notwithstanding, has not... recognize that this is a proceeding. But my question was whether you are familiar with the Public Works Order 300079 on this matter.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 35:05
“Right. And it describes the Bureau of Urban Forestry's position.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 35:31
“So when I am reading from the order, losing this tree removes canopy and planting space unnecessarily, is that the department's view?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 38:11
“I understand that. This is what happens when a department sends a representative. He or she represents the department. There are a lot of people at the department. The department is served, I would say well served, by a deputy city attorney or the city attorney's office. And they're somewhere, but you're here. And as I understand it, we did have interaction with the department, not you, but the department, when the brief was due, whether they were going to send somebody. So now you're here and you get, in effect, maybe the wrong word, but you get our questions and you've responded as well as…”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 45:25
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 47:34
“So are you aware whether at the public hearing on April the 15th that's memorialized in the Public Works Order where it describes Buff's observations that I just read to you, was Buff represented at that hearing?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 47:58
“And I know here Brian Ong was your representative.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 48:08
“So I appreciate that everyone has to answer to someone else and part of a bureaucracy. I'm just trying to get a sense as to whether Buff feels it was wrong earlier or whether it is simply abiding by the boss.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 49:52
“But when you say it's not a tree-related removal, it's the tree, the same tree is being removed.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:05:36
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:06:19
“Okay. And the second question I have is, so we just are about to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the ADA. How long has this intersection been without curb cuts?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:08:10
“So are you aware of anything that prompted the start of this action on the curb?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:08:48
“So just so I'm clear, so an independent schedule that came up to. Rhode Island and as they were doing the repaving, they said, oh, we don't have a curb cut here. Is that basically it?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:16:34
“I just have one more question. And could you put the map that you brought or the diagram, can you put that back up?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:16:51
“So we've got Rhode Island left to right. 19th. North to South. Where is the intended crosswalk and curb cut?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:17:52
“Are you speaking of the area that's marked DWY?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:18:05
“Okay, so in relation to that point, where is the proposed, where is the tree and where is the proposed cutting of the curb cutting?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:18:54
“OK, so so that. Removal of that tree. will enable a curb cut right to go from where it says 3. Over 2. Down on the diagram towards where the two arrows are correct.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:19:26
“It's a crossroad. It's to cross Rhode Island. Correct.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:19:46
“Okay. I'm trying to just make clear that the reason to have that Cut is to enable people to go or animals to go from where the tree is to the to cross Rhode Island.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:20:33
“You're making, I'm sorry, you're asking a much more complicated, you're answering a much more complicated question than I had. The question I had is, it's to go from the upper level of the diagram where it says tree to go to the lower level of the diagram, which has polka dots, two arrows. In other words, to cross Rhode Island on the left side of the diagram.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:21:36
“People would have to go. Across the street across the street and across the street.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:22:05
“Okay, I'm going to try one more time and then I'll yield to Commissioner Wong. If there were no curb cut where the tree is and if the person is in a wheelchair, how would they get from that point to across Rhode Island to that other area that has dots on it? They simply can't.”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026
- Play at 1:22:43
“Is it impossible to go to the other side of the intersection?”
Board of Appeals · Aug 26, 2026