Pasadena's Tree Removal: Shady Business?

At a February 9th meeting, the Pasadena City Council voted to go ahead with their over ten-year-old plan to remove 43 ficus trees from streets in the area, particularly many on Colorado Boulevard that share the land with popular local businesses.

The plan met with opposition from residents and some business owners, predominantly because the replacement trees would take too long to produce shade that would help shoppers suffer the often-intense heat of Pasadena more gladly. Those in favor of cutting down the trees were concerned about the immediate problem of messy seed pods and the potential for the trees' roots to cause problems with plumbing and rupturing sidewalks, making them difficult for pedestrians and the disabled to walk upon them with ease.

Late last month, there was hope for those hoping to stop the plan, as one Council member wavered on his stance. Although the City Council's vote less than two weeks later solidified the plan and approved funding for its implementation, when trees were felled late in the night at the end of last week, people's reactions ranged from surprised to outraged.

One biologist, Lori Paul, is appalled at the City's behavior, and claimed in an email aimed at engendering support for a protest and boycott of area businesses who support the removal, that the City had informed her the trees would remain in place until April, which would ensure the safety of birds who are in their nesting season.

Paul told the Pasadena Star-News that claims the root systems of the trees will eventually rupture sidewalks due to growth is incorrect, and that "the reason the sidewalk buckles is because the city has neglected the trees. The roots surface and break concrete looking for water."

Pasadena reps say the best way to voice disagreement is to contact the City and residents' councilmembers, and not to boycott businesses like independent bookstore Vroman's, whose businesses are located on streets where tree removal has taken--or is due to take--place. The bookstore has not been entirely silent: "In an effort to alleviate the tension, Vroman's management put out a statement saying how sad they are about the city's decision to remove the trees." The City says as of last Friday, only one complaint was formally lodged with the Mayor's office about the removal of the trees.