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# Letter: Questions about the city's plan to remove trees on Second and Fourth streets
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/bill-bauer-send-comments-to-editor-smdp-com-my-write-getting-down-to-the-root-editor/
- Published: 2007-10-01T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T03:05:38.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Pier, #archive-import

*By Cosmo Bua Santa Monica*

While I appreciate your continuing coverage of the plight of the trees on Second and Fourth streets, what we really need is more extensive investigative reporting. Please get the facts the public needs. For example, on the supposed tree disease: What is the disease, exactly which trees (what is their exact location) have it, is it incurable in each of them, how much longer might they live if we tried to help them? On the subject of removing and/or destroying the trees: Why did the city move ahead with the plan even though many hundreds of Santa Monicans petitioned against it, and since the trees themselves are providing very strong positive environmental benefits? At the same time that we will be experience the upgrading of both the pier and the California Incline, what will be the actual additional disruption of removing huge trees with root systems under both of these over-used streets and all of their adjoining businesses?

In my own opinion, a decision has been made that is obviously not sensible for an environmentally aware city. Is the power of a few building owners and a design team so extreme that they can force Santa Monica to destroy trees that have benefited our community longer than most of us have lived here? Let us be clear, this is not about process. Every politician should know that each complaint, petition signature or letter represents 10 times that many people — most are not able to attend meetings.

Finally, and most importantly, trees are not “design elements.” They are living beings in our care.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 1, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)