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# Merchants got it made in the shade
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/merchants-got-it-made-in-the-shade-editor/
- Published: 2007-06-26T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T01:19:19.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Promenade, #archive-import

*By Frank Muller Santa Monica*

Where has Kathleen Rawson (executive director of the Bayside District Corporation) been besides plan-ning this $6.5 million Second and Fourth street refurbishment project, $700,000 of which is dedicated to uprooting 40 mature ficuses? Hasn’t she heard that these magnificently foliaged perennials absorb vehicle carbon dioxide exhaust gases, and reduce heat from being reradiated into the lower climate controlling atmosphere? I have traveled those two roads by car and by foot. In the summer, whence temperatures on the Third Street Promenade can reach 90-95 (degrees), Second and Fourth have very comfortable 75-80 (degree) ambient readings. Beverly Hills did get rid of about 100 well-maintained mature ficuses, and replaced them two years ago with tall palm trees, and some thinly foliaged ginkgo bilobas! On summer days, residents and tourists mainly stroll on the shaded side when the western sun is shielded by store structures! Less foot traffic on the eastern venues of Camden, Rodeo, Beverly and Canon; same on Camden, Bedford, Brighton and Dayton.

The warmth of the sun. which used to be absorbed as photosynthesis energy to grow more ficus leaves and stems, now radiates even more from widened sidewalks and hot storefronts.

What bothers me is that some Santa Monica Second and Fourth street merchants are not aware that the current trees and their tremendous leaf surface areas absorb carbon dioxide exhaust pollution, as well as heat while transpiring moisture to reduce global warming at the local level in green Santa Monica.

Ms. Rawson, trimming some trees which are not in front of businesses to make them less shadowy, I think, is a more cost-effective strategy than uprooting them. And the odds are that people will know that you are good at getting something important done!

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 26, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062607.pdf?ref=smdp.com)