Santa Monica Treesavers: Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is a legal term which means that a court has made a determination (a judgment) without a full trial.

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This photo provides a concise summary of the issue: a dead tree, lying in the street in front of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

It's Unbelievable

The City of Santa Monica planned to destroy or remove over 50 of the beautiful, large-canopy Ficus trees along Second and Fourth Streets.
The city wanted them replaced with small Ginkgos that though beautiful, actually cast very little shade (most of it after 20 years' growth). Why? The city claimed some of them are too damaged or decayed to be saved. But the majority of these trees would have been removed to make those streets more attractive to the shopping public. This weird logic flies in the face of research, surveys and studies showing that dense, large-canopy trees attract shoppers. They make the place nicer, better and healthier for everyone.

Many Santa Monica residents and visitors want to preserve these magnificent stands of large, shade-giving trees in the heart of our town. This site is intended as a clearinghouse for information, and a rallying point for community support. Call your councilmembers! Tell them: Save Our Trees!

Contact your councilmembers: click here.

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in their way.
~William Blake

Uni High solves Ficus sidewalk issues with rubber sidewalks

Ficus: naturally counteracting the heat-island effect

The Arboretum at Arizona State University's description of the Ficus: "Dense foliage on upright-growing branches...The more sunlight this tree receives, the more leaves it produces." [italics ours]. In other words, this tree provides a natural antidote to the heat-island effect of urban areas.

What does the EPA say? "Increasing the cover of trees and vegetation in a city is a simple and effective way to reduce the urban heat island effect... Shade trees also can make homes and buildings significantly more energy efficient. Scientists estimate that strategically planting trees and vegetation reduces cooling energy consumption by up to 25%. For many, this research comes as no surprise—trees have been used to cool homes for hundreds of years."

What did the Arizona State University's Arboretum say about the Ficus? The more sunlight this tree receives, the more leaves it produces.

Help us save the trees!

5.23.2008

Summary Judgment

It's Unbelievable

Donate To Treesavers

Treesavers Videos

Press Release: Court Order

Santa Monica City Documents

Article: City Has a New Bounce in Its Step

Article: Rubber sidewalks add bounce to city foot traffic

Uni High solves Ficus sidewalk issues with rubber sidewalks

Research Study: Santa Monica's Ficus #2 Most Beneficial Tree in City

UC Davis: Study of the Santa Monica Municipal Forest

UC Davis: Santa Monica trees help control stormwater runoff

Research shows large, full-canopy street trees are better for retail, shopping

Does the city of Santa Monica consider Ficus a valuable tree?

Ficus: naturally counteracting the heat-island effect

Large mature urban Ficus street trees costly, difficult to transplant successfully

Santa Monica's Chief Forester considers Ficus "a treasure."

Santa Monica saves a ficus! Yes--it IS possible.

S.M. Planning Commission works to preserve city's private tree canopy

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