By Robert Pawloski Santa Monica
I recently read of Santa Monica’s plans to remove trees on both Second and Fourth streets in the downtown area, between Broadway and Wilshire (“Shedding light in downtown,” May 22). Those big, beautiful green trees have been here a very long time and have watched downtown grow around them. It seems that those behind this plan regard old trees like society regards older citizens: When they become too much trouble, when they get in the way, when they don’t fit the modern image, we simply get rid of them or move them aside in such a way that they will surely not survive.
I would hope those overseeing the growth and improvement of Santa Monica would have more sense than to cut down big, beautiful, old trees in a time when we should be caring even more for such wonders. Any plan to improve an area should maintain the best of what’s already there. With all the expertise coming to bear on such a project, could there not be an alternative to allay merchant complaints that signs are being blocked? It’s a shame that these old trees don’t fit the sterile, gentrified image of a modern city, but is that really what we want Santa Monica to look like? Does no one see the character that these trees bring to our downtown? Have developers not researched how mature trees greatly increase property value?
What a terrible loss the removal of these trees will be for the quality of life in Santa Monica!
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 25, 2007. Read the original PDF.