Love 'em or hate em, the works of Santa Monica activists trying to block the city from moving ficus trees from 2nd and 4th Streets have been successful so far:
Protesters obtained a restraining order Friday to stop the destruction of a stand of ficus trees in downtown Santa Monica that the city had planned to remove starting Monday as part of an $8-million downtown development project.Local activist Jerry Rubin got the order approved by a judge on behalf of Santa Monica Treesavers. The order prevents the city from removing 54 ficus trees on 4th and 2nd streets unless they pose a danger to the public. [LA Times]
Previously on LAist
- Ficus? Ficyou! Emergency Meeting to Save Doomed Santa Monica Trees Set For Tonight at 6pm
- Extra, Extra from 9/26/07 (see second to last bullet)
photos via The Treesavers.org




I don't like Ficus trees. They're an eyesore and totally out of place in both the real and created southern California landscape. The trees ruin the sidewalks and streets. Bottom line...GET RID OF THEM!! The proposed re-development puts together a much better option. There...I said it.
Look, we all like trees - but the SM Gov is trying to do the right thing in the right way. Ficus can be very destructive, ask anyone who has had their foundation and/or plumbing destroyed by the roots.
Fine....Let em keep the trees - just have a special Santa Monica residents only "ficus tax" to cover all the expenses generated by the lawsuits and damage that the ficus roots will cause. Let them pick up the tab. All the activists can pony up too.
They are replacing the trees after all, there is reasoning behind the removal.