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# Greg Foisie Guest Commentary Deflowering of town continues An open letter to Santa Monica City Council
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/greg-foisie-send-comments-to-editor-smdp-com-guest-commentary-deflowering-of-town-continues-an-open-letter-to-santa-monica-city-council/
- Published: 2007-05-31T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:06:27.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Nanne Snow Santa Monica*

I can’t believe you are planning on allowing your “management company” — Bayside District Corp. — to cut down (or remove) the beautiful ficus trees on Fourth and Second streets. No, let me take that back. Actually, I can believe it, having seen what sort of urbanization has despoiled this lovely little beach town in the past 15 years; an “urbanization,” otherwise commonly called “planning and development” in the Bayside Corporation’s mission statement, and apparently endorsed by the city or its “Council.” Haven’t we, the residents of this city, made it clear, especially in the past two or three years, that we’re fed up with the over-development, the traffic, the rampant commercialism that seems to make it anything but a livable environment for its residents. But again, looking more closely at Bayside’s list of objectives, one can see where “community life” and “residents” fall... dead last.

No, I guess I’m not surprised that the trees along Fourth and Second streets are doomed. And what about Santa Monica’s supposed commitment to a “green awareness” and supposed determination to become a leader against “climate change?” Yes, I’m sure cutting down lush green trees and replacing them with trees that will allow more light (and less shade for pedestrians) will really help on that end. But, hey, people driving by in their cars will be able to see the merchants’ signage better, especially as they will also be forced to slow by the “curb bumpouts” that will accompany the tree removal. Don’t even get me started on that.

Perhaps the Bayside District should take a look at some of the merchants it’s encouraging set up residence on Fourth Street and Second Street in the first place. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run down to buy a new sofa or bicycle or shop at a big, glorious chain’s flagship store. (I live on Fourth Street by the way). I pledge to do everything in my power to fight this deflowering of my city and the priorities that apparently are being decided by the dollar versus the “living” standard of real people.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 31, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/053107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)