By Daniel Jansenson Santa Monica
I am deeply thankful to the many people who have joined the effort to save the wonderful ficus trees on Second and Fourth streets. I wish to differ, however, with Ms. Brennan’s recent letter as to the possible origins of this problem. My theory is that a sincere effort was made to help merchants on these streets by reconfiguring the sidewalks and landscaping. But in the case of these great old trees, a mistake was made. That’s all it was — a simple mistake. And we’re still in time to make what is really a very simple correction.
Saving these trees will preserve the environment for pedestrians and make the retail establishments more — not less — attractive. The trees are alive and healthy; there really is no reason to destroy them. The design plans for these areas could easily be reconfigured to save and include these trees, without diluting the quality and intent of the design. Saving these trees would make everyone happy: Merchants, pedestrians and visitors to our town as well.
There are members of City Council who practically made careers from saving hedges. Surely they could be mobilized to help save these grand, shady trees?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 2, 2007. Read the original PDF.