In the months to come, City Hall will be waging war against one of residents’ biggest foes — The Eucalyptus tree.
Seventy-seven of them will be cut down and another 444 trimmed this year, setting City Hall back $175,000.
We think City Hall is barking up the right tree, since the eucalyptus has proven to be hazardous due to its tendency to shed itself of dead limbs. The trees, many of which are overgrown, have injured dozens of people throughout the city in recent years — one couple successfully sued City Hall for $1.5 million after a eucalyptus fell on their car and injured them.
Cutting down aged trees is never a gleeful option, but we have confidence in the report presented by arboricultural firm HortScience Inc., which was hired by City Hall. Unfortunately, the assessment determined that some of the trees simply have to go. Of the 517 eucalyptus trees in the city, a majority of them are in danger of falling. It’s comforting to know that city officials are choosing to cut down just 77 of them and managing the others with simple trimming techniques.
The trees will be replaced with a smaller species of eucalyptus, or whatever species dominates a particular area. The trees which will be removed are in the areas of Broadway, between 11th Street and Centinela Avenue; Seventh Street, between California Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard; Reed Park and Palisades Park.
City Hall’s challenge will be educating the public as to why it’s cutting down the trees. City officials need to launch an aggressive public awareness campaign informing residents of the safety campaign. They took the right steps today when foresters and arborists held a news conference at Reed Park announcing their plans.
We suggest that every resident who lives in the areas that are affected receive notice from City Hall informing them on how the trees will be cut, what they will be replaced with and the timeline for the work.
We know that Santa Monicans are extremely protective of their trees and don’t like to see them removed. But if they are at the end of their life span, it’s better to take them now before someone else gets hurt.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 5, 2006. Read the original PDF.