Treesavers Mark First Anniversary
The Treesavers was organized to oppose the City’s plans to remove
some ficus trees from Second and Fourth Streets in downtown Santa Monica as part of an “improvement” plan.
The group managed to delay the trees’ removal for five months, but the City ultimately prevailed.
The group’s current project is the creation of a City tree commission.
Treesavers will mark its first anniversary with a gathering at the Promenade Playhouse, 1404 Third Street Promenade, at 6 p.m..
There will be tree-shaped cupcakes.
THANKS TO ALL TREESAVERS!
FURTHER INFO.- 310-399-1000
OR VISIT- treesavers.blogspot.com
SEE YOU FRIDAY,SEPT.12 AT THE
TREESAVERS PUBLIC ANNIVERSARY.
All was not lost. The original plan was to kill all the Ficus trees on 2nd and 4th Streets. That changed and the plan a year ago was for removal of 54 Ficus trees on 2nd and 4th Streets–23 to be killed and 31 to be removed to the tune of over $600,000 (our tax dollars at work).
The city killed the 23 on May 16, but backed down on removing the 31. These past two weeks the city’s wasted more taxpayer money to the tune of at least $11,000 per tree to actually remove and still work on removing only 7. While it’s incredibly sad, it’s fascinating to see how the workers go about this gargantuan kiss of death project. Let’s just hope for everyone’s sake, no tree falls on any pedestrian or car stuck in the resulting traffic jams.
Because of Treesavers efforts and the support of the community, 24 trees were spared from what independent arborist Alden Kelly predicted as a “slow death”. One boxed tree predictably responded by shedding most of its leaves, weeping tree style because of its mutilation.
Sadly, at least three boxed beauties now sit across from City Hall as trophies (or like heads on sticks) for all to see, and be in awe of the power, glory and might of Lamont Ewell, the four encumbents for City Council (Genser, Shriver, Katz and Bloom). and urban DE-forester Walt Warriner.
One poor tree, ripped out of the ground with the parking meter still next to it, is at Main and Olympic Drive. This is the very tree Jerry Rubin and other Treesavers were standing near, outside its restricted area, calmly and peacefully discussing saving with the police, when Kate Vernez and other city honchos ordered Rubin’s illegal arrest (more tax dollars at work).
The encumbents (Genser, Shriver, Katz and Bloom) and all their trappings, not healthy, beautiful trees, need to be removed. Santa Monica must not become known for tall buildings and small trees. The Ficus tree travesty is one of the reasons I’m running for City Council. You can contact me at susanhartleyforcitycouncil@gmail.com.