By Caroline Jacobs
Now’s the time to come to the aid of our ficus trees — the lovely, shade-giving trees which line both Second and Fourth streets, from Wilshire down to Colorado.
If I may recap, The Treesavers group (treesavers.blogspot.com) stopped the city from carrying out their plan to cut down or remove 50 of the trees along these two streets. The group accomplished this feat by applying for a “Landmark-Status” designation. The filing and acceptance of the applications (one for each street) has prevented, for the time being, any and all City Hall redevelopment schemes affecting the ficus trees.
However, on Monday, Dec. 10, the Landmark Commission will decide whether or not to preserve these 50 trees in their present location (I say 50, give-or-take a few that might or might not be unhealthy or unstable).
The commission will meet at 6 p.m and will listen to statements from the public before deciding their fate.
According to the Notice of Public Hearing, the ficus tree matter will be heard first.
All those who want to preserve these trees should try to be at the hearing on the 10th. Bear in mind, though, “... if this matter is subsequently challenged in Court, the Challenge may be limited only to those issues raised at the Public Hearing... or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Monica at, or prior to, the Public Hearing.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 4, 2007. Read the original PDF.