News of the Arroyo
Title: | City begins tree removal, residents upset |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2009-02-20 |
Summary: | February 20, 2009 - The elegant ficus trees on Colorado Boulevard are coming down to be replaced by spindly Gingko trees despite community concerns about aesthetics, global warming and other issues. |
Author: | Sharon Hardwick, Coorespondent |
Publication: | Pasadena Star-News |
Content: | PASADENA- Two large tree stumps outside Vroman\'s Bookstore on Colorado Boulevard are all that\'s left of the ficus trees that once shaded this well-trafficked sidewalk. Pasadena residents couldn\'t be any more displeased. \"I came to work at 6:45 a.m. and the city crew was already packing up,\" said Jose Reyes, a Vroman\'s newstand employee. \"Regulars who come by to pick up their morning paper have been asking me questions and cussing about it.\" 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. \"We understand this was a complicated issue for everyone,\" it said, directing all further concerns to city officials and the mayor\'s office. So far, only one woman has called Mayor Bill Bogaard to complain, said Ann Erdman, a spokeswoman for the city. Complaints poured into Vision One during the day as well, and optometrist owner Chris Nicholson decided to postpone putting up a new store sign for fear that people would think he had something to do with the tree removal. \"Coincidentally, I was getting a new sign put up today because the ficus used to block it,\" he said. \"But I don\'t want anyone to think I had anything to do with the tree. Personally I think it\'s such a shame.\" Nicholson said he understood the tree had to be removed because of sewage problems.. But not all residents are clear on why the ficus trees were felled. \"I don\'t understand why they did this,\" said Advertisement Quantcast Stuart Sidwell, an Altadena resident and frequent visitor to the Laemmle Theatres on Colorado. \"It was a nice form of shade. This disrupts the beauty and format of the city.\" So far, no complaints have been received by the Parks & Natural Resources office, administrator Kathleen Woods said. |
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