Tree Vandalism in DTLA: Followed by Quick Community Action

         In the early hours of Saturday, April 19, a depraved individual used a chainsaw to cut down almost two dozen healthy, mature trees on the streets of DTLA.  Many citizens were outraged and took immediate action. Community outcry was voiced through several citizen petitions, many emails, and calls to CD 14, LAPD, LA Mayor Bass, and the LA City Council demanding immediate action to apprehend the perpetrator and to replace the damaged trees. This resulted in a quick arrest and charging of a suspect by LAPD which was aided in their dragnet by several citizen videos showing the identity of the suspect. CD 14 Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion asking for a dramatic increase in the fine amount for acts of tree vandalism. A joint commitment was made through a public/private partnership between the City of LA, LA Bureau of Tree Services, North-East Trees, and the LA Conservation Corps to replace the murdered trees quickly.

On Thursday, April 24, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado held a press conference at the site of one of the downed trees on Hope at 9th Street attended by the media, several local neighborhood organizations including SPNA and DTLA RA, and many residents of DTLA to decry this act of vandalism, announce the arrest of a suspect, and introduce the organizations both public and private who will be replacing the felled trees – two trees for every one destroyed and at no cost to the City!  This entire action from perpetration to solution took only four days!

Since the beginning of my ten-year residency in DTLA, I have never witnessed a more prompt and effective response to such an outrage.  I have no doubt that resident activism caused this wonderful result. We at SPNA commend the citizens, DTLA RA, and government officials of DTLA for working together so effectively for an immediate solution!

Community Activism Works!

By John Nilsson