Add, Don’t Remove, Trees; SM Besting NY

October 10, 2007

Dear Editor,

In his recent column, Mr. Gruber speaks thusly:

"Twenty-five years from now when activist Jerry Rubin is an old man and the 100 or so ficus trees that aren't being removed from Second and Fourth Streets this year are dying as they reach the ends of their life spans -- that is if they haven't died already from disease -- the younger generations of humans then living in Santa Monica will be grateful that back in 2007 the City replaced 54 old ficus with 139 gingko saplings."

Mr. Gruber appears to be under the impression that Jerry Rubin and the Treesavers group are advocating not planting new trees on Second and Fourth Streets. In actual reality, the tree supporters are asking that the mature healthy trees be left where they are, and additional trees planted where necessary.

Proper interleaving of mature and younger trees will result in a diverse, long-lasting urban forest, but this should not be done by yanking out the healthy trees and replacing them with others whose shade canopy will not mature for fifteen years. There is a better way, and the current streetscape design needs to be changed.

Dan Jansenson
Santa Monica

October 10, 2007

Dear Editor,

What am I missing about Santa Monica's approach to ending homelessness? (see story)

The Santa Monica approach has moved 78 chronically homeless people off the streets. The New York City approach has moved 180 chronically homeless people off the streets.

By my calculations, we are doing a far better job than they are, considering the vast difference in the sizes of our population and business community.

Abby Arnold
Santa Monica