In Pasadena, California, activists have chained themselves to trees at John Muir High School as a last resort to prevent their removal. Their actions follow weeks of vigilance, aiming to protect three American sweet gum trees slated for cutting by the Pasadena Unified School District. This effort is part of a broader conflict concerning nearly 200 trees on campuses affected by contaminated soil.
The school district, in collaboration with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, insists that trees must be removed along with toxic soil before August. They argue it is crucial to eliminate fire-related contaminants, including heavy metals, from an earlier fire that devastated the area, claiming 19 lives.
Activists contend that alternative methods could cleanse the soil without destroying the trees. They point to a local ordinance safeguarding native and mature trees, urging the city of Pasadena to issue a stop-work order. Despite the district’s claims that such an order does not affect their project, activists remain undeterred.
The school district has been removing trees since June, relying on a plan to excavate contaminated soil. The plan includes removing 193 trees across 11 sites. Many of these trees are mature species native to California, such as coast live oaks and western sycamores, some of which have withstood fires naturally.
Jessica Richards of Pasadena Tree Preservation argues against the one-to-one tree replacement policy. She claims it is impossible to replace decades-old trees with saplings of only one or two inches in diameter. Alarm among activists rose when the first trees were cut at San Rafael Elementary School.
Protests have gathered momentum, drawing environmentalists like Sabine Höppner, who chained herself to a 160-year-old sycamore. The district has partially responded, committing to save up to 57 trees and explore other soil remediation methods. However, specifics on deciding which trees remain are unclear.
Amid ongoing tensions, the city issued a stop-work order on July 1, citing procedural shortcomings by the school district. A week later, protesters convened at district headquarters to halt further tree cutting. Massachusetts issued a warrant allowing tree inspection with an arborist, fueling hopes for increased tree protection.
Veteran activists Julia Butterfly Hill and John Quigley joined efforts to safeguard the trees. Monty Leaver, a teenager at Blair High School, articulated the group’s sentiment, pointing out how trees bring character to their campuses.
Despite halting the cutting of three sweet gum trees at John Muir High School, uncertainty persists. The district claims their actions fall outside city jurisdiction, suggesting continued contention. Höppner reflects on the fire’s impact, noting trees’ resilience and the metaphorical lesson derived from their recovery.