so in the "we know better than you" and "greener" palo alto, the city just decided to clear cut 63 oak trees as part of a "beutification" plan. cutting down the trees was actually the only part of the plan they had, and apparently nobody approved it...



its caused all kinds of ruckus, but of course, its not anyones fault...



http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_13500944



The sun shines more brightly these days on Palo Alto's California Avenue, but the mood is dark.



Since 63 holly oak trees that once lined the street were chopped down three weeks ago, California Avenue has gone from being a sleepy, drab and tree-shaded collection of bistros, boutiques and beauty salons to one that is merely sleepy and drab. The sidewalks seem emptier as pedestrians shield their eyes from the unrelenting glare off the cars and store windows.



Palo Alto residents, of course, were furious when news of the clear-cutting spread. From the tone of comments in the media and around town, you might think the logging companies were clear cutting Muir Woods. There were hyperbolic odes to the "mighty oaks" on local blogs. Some people compared the new streetscape to the surface of the moon or (horrors!) Sunnyvale.





Friday, September 25, 2009



Dear Friends,



I've heard that some people do not believe that Canopy was unaware that the California Ave. oaks were going to be cut down. Frankly, we ourselves couldn't believe that we hadn't been told.



In fact, the California Ave. tree removal plans completely circumvented all normal community and City channels of communication. We work hard on all things tree-related in Palo Alto and generally, have a good relationship with the City of Palo Alto Tree Division and other departments. Had the tree-cutting plans made it through the proper City channels, Canopy and the community would have been informed and could have opposed and stopped the removal of all the trees.



I want to clarify, once again, that Canopy wasn't involved in the California Ave. planning process after 2006:

-- In June 2006 Canopy participated in a public meeting about potential streetscape improvements for California Ave. The discussion focused on making California Ave. more inviting for pedestrians, improving bike access and enhancing usability of the street, including replacing missing trees. At that time Canopy supported the project and the City's application for grant funding.

-- Subsequently, we were informed that the grant had not been obtained.

-- We received no further news from CAADA or the City about any progress on their California Ave. plans.



This week Susan Rosenberg (Canopy's Board Chair) and I met with Mayor Peter Drekmeier and other City Council Members, Deputy City Manager Steve Emslie, Assistant Director of Public Works Mike Sartor, Tree Division City Managing Arborist Eric Krebs and Project Manager Kate Rooney, to get our questions answered. We demanded that steps be taken to prevent anything like this from happening again. I emphasized how critical it is that the City complete the Urban Forest Master Plan (which could have prevented such a debacle) and implement it with some clearly designated leadership.



The City has now asked Canopy to work with the Tree Division to ensure that appropriate tree species be selected to satisfy site-specific criteria, and planted as soon as possible to reforest California Ave. The City's also inviting community input at an 6:30PM, October 8th meeting at the Escondido School. I encourage you to participate. Check the City's press release for additional information.



Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who might be interested.



I also want to thank all of you who have reached out to Canopy to express your dismay and your support. This community values its trees and is making itself heard.



Neighborwoods Month Square



Catherine Martineau

Executive Director

Canopy

Why would a presumably nearly bankrupt city spend money doing something that serves no purpose? Oh wait let me guess, they money was already in the tree chopping budget and if they didn't spend it they would lose it.

They made them into paper and printed more money

Someone got some free heating for the winter months.

we're in california! its 50!

Geez that's cold, no wonder you need fire wood!!!

Free Willy?

That seems pretty cool for that area ? We are around 10-12 F right now, but going back up to 50-55 next week.. Hardwood makes great firewood , burns forever.

oh that's at night, during the day it gets to like 70 still, its perfect

I can't wait for this weekend, highs in the low 70s, lows in the 40s, sunny, perfect!



The trees this is funny. Here, when they want to widen a road or build a new building, there will months of talk in the papers about cutting down a few huge oak trees.