NEWSLETTER OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD
TREE PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Vol. 2 No. 2 March 2002

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
By Angee Beckett

The gala screening of our PSA's was February 20, 2002. There were approximately 150 people in attendance. It was held at The Lot, and Greg Harless provided an incredible reception after the program. During the program I gave a three-minute thank you speech. I don't feel I thanked some very special people enough therefore I want to mention them and thank them in this newsletter. First of all I want to thank Konstantin Sutyagin. He not only is our web designer and our graphic artist, pro bono; he designed the invitations and the program for the PSA event. He is an incredibly talented artist and we are lucky to have him as part of our organization. The next person I really want to thank is Joelle Dobrow. She was our postproduction producer and co-producer of the PSA's. Without her connections and hard work the PSA's would never have made it through postproduction. The other people who worked on the event for the PSA's also deserve grateful thanks. Those people are; Marcy Gossett, Silva Blackstone, Fancy Bal comb, Todd Hansom, Mariana, and Yaman. Also helping staff the event, thanks go out to Geoff Buck, Ralph Feely, and James Geigle.
During the event we were honored to have speeches from a number of people. I want to thank them for making us feel like we were all stars. Those people were, our PSA director Marty Élcan, our PSA producer Julie Falen, director of California Relief Martha Ozonoff, our very own councilman Steve Martin, and finally our fabulous keynote speaker Mr. Doug Forrest from CDF. His speech was so inspirational that we have decided to run it in this month's newsletter:

Doug Forrest's keynote address

General trends

Population growth and urban expansion has brought the protection of the health and survival of California's urban forests to a crucial point.

Government agencies say that eight California cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Long Beach, Fresno, Oakland and Sacramento are home to some 27 million people or one-quarter of state's entire population (34 million). These and other metropolises can expect even further strain as they prepare for an additional influx of around 20 million more people to the state by 2025.

Expanding communities or suburban sprawl creates spatial needs that often forces tree removal.

Increased suburban dwellers mean more daily commuters on the roads, which increases traffic congestion and its associated air and water pollution. These pollutants choke the remaining trees and stunt the growth of young trees.

As suburbanites increase, tax revenues within cities decrease leaving budgets struggling to provide basic services and limiting the city's focus. Funding for "extras" such as tree care and maintenance is usually sacrificed.

Minimal open or green space, dirtier air and water, and traffic congestion directly impact the state's economy. Businesses and workers weigh these quality of life issues when considering expansion, relocation, etc. A gloomy economy results in less funding for and public interest in environmental programs.

Our department recently released a report titled, "The State Of Urban And Community Forestry In California, Status in 1997 And Trends Since 1988." The report mentions four indicators of the demise of our city forests.

First, despite an increase in urban and community forest programs and plantings, in 1997, 25 percent more trees were removed than planted. This compares to an 18 percent tree loss in 1988 and 1992. I suspect today's percentage numbers will be significantly higher due to the widespread eucalyptus mortality from various pests, the pine pitch canker affecting the coastal conifers, and the sudden oak death in the more northern coastal counties.

Second, tree species favored for replacement plantings today tend to be shorter-lived and smaller. The benefits to urban areas, like shade and wildlife habitat, are thereby lessened.

Third, citizen support of urban forestry programs has dipped since 1988.

Lastly, there is a lack of personal ownership of trees. We, the urban and suburban dwellers, have tended to rely upon local government departments to manage the trees. One reason for this ownership disconnect within the rural sprawl areas is due to the current development processes. For example, developers are typically required to pay for and plant the trees; long-term maintenance responsibility, however, switches to the cities.

A shout for public support

Another departmental report that focused on the state of urban forestry in California was done in February, 2000. It provides a valuable conclusion to these four observations. It states, "The bottom line is that most Californians are unaware of the precarious condition of the state's urban forests and have no idea of the widespread fallout if they should perish. Californians lack the knowledge and the personal or financial connection with trees needed to motivate them to take the step from observer to active stakeholder." I'll restate: most of us are ignorant of the terminal state of our urban forests and most of us lack the mental connection to take us from merely an observer to an active, responsible participant in urban forest management.

This same report continues by stating that "the most time- and cost-effective way in which to reconnect Californians with their community trees is a public education campaign…." This campaign must strive to "build public consensus, build funding support for urban forestry issues through public and governmental outreach," and "engage and educate California's vast and diverse urban audiences, not merely inform."

The West Hollywood Tree Preservation Society became convinced of the need to "reconnect Californians with their community trees" and has accepted the challenge to provide needed public education. They have entered the campaign. They, being closely tied to the film and television industry, saw that they could use their time, talents, and relationships to tackle this community detachment from urban forestry issues. Granted about $19,000 through our department, the society and other committed individuals and businesses turned those meager dollars into vital public service announcements that normally would have cost around $300,000. These PSAs are a great example of what can be done through cooperative partnerships; partnerships between the government and the concerned and informed citizens.

Cooperative partnerships

One function of government, in my opinion, is to enable or assist the governed in their pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (within the realm of common good and justice.) This means there is an obvious and synergistic partnership between the two entities. Each party benefits as one benefits.
OK, this was my feeble attempt at being a statesman. I do want to say, however, that in my preparation for this presentation I found some very interesting and relevant comments from two individuals who are statesmen. As I just said, the commendable efforts and achievements by Angee Beckett and her consortium reflect the essence of cooperative partnerships and of these statesmen's words.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in his speech presented at Harvard University on June 8, 1978, stated,
"If, as claimed by humanism, man were born only to be happy, he would not be born to die. Since his body is doomed to death, his task on earth evidently must be more spiritual: not a total engrossment in everyday life, not the search for the best ways to obtain material goods and then their carefree consumption. It has to be the fulfillment of a permanent, earnest duty so that one's life journey may become above all an experience of moral growth: to leave life a better human being than one started it."
I have not known Ms. Beckett long. In fact, before tonight, I have had one phone conversation with her. However, the outcome of her endeavors and those who teamed with her on this project has spoken volumes. I have a good indication of their spirit and character. She and the others obviously were not "totally engrossed in everyday life" merely treasuring the accumulation and consumption of material goods. In Mr. Solzhenitsyn's words, these people are evidently in pursuit of leaving at its be"life a better human being than one started it." And, I'll add, influence the betterment of society as a whole.
To further emphasize Angee's and the others philanthropic endeavors I want to restate a few comments made by President George W. Bush in his inaugural address. He said, "America, is a place where personal responsibility is valued and expected. Encouraging responsibility is not a search for scapegoats; it is a call to conscience. And though it requires sacrifice, it brings a deeper fulfillment." It is apparent that she and the WHTPS led by their conscience pursued responsibility and not scapegoats. I am sure that by looking into these individual's faces you will quickly notice a deep sense of fulfillment.
President Bush's address also gives me some very fitting closing remarks. He said, "What you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort; to defend needed reforms against easy attacks; to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character." I think Angee's and the West Hollywood Tree Preservation Society's accomplishments would bring a smile to his face. It does mine.

Thank you.

CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD TREE PRUNING CONTRACT

Angee Becket, Silva Blackstone, and Geoff Buck met with Sam Baxter, Dave Gardner, and representatives of True Green to discuss the city's tree trimming contract. All parties agreed that there is room for improvement and over the coming months we will continue to meet.


WHTPS ADDRESSES PRIVATE PROPERTY TREE-TRIMMING

Our Mama Tree Goddess Silva Blackstone and our Papa Daddy of Baby Trees, Geoff Buck are working together to write a letter and present it to the city of West Hollywood in hopes that they will communicate this information to all property owners regarding the value of private trees and how poor pruning practices negatively impact the health of the trees, and lower the property values. Our city needs as much healthy canope as we can get. Topping, tipping, and lion tailing trees hurts us all, and that is the message we want to get across to all property owners.

LAOCRUFC NEWS

On February 27th the marketing subcomitee of LAOCRUFC held its third meeting. At that meeting the main topic dealt with partnering our billboard grant with LAOCRUFC and expanding the scope of the program. Many new slogans were considered. This year will be an exciting media blitz in favor of a healthy urban forest. Yea!

UPCOMING EVENTS

EARTH DAY 2002 this April.

TREE TIPS FROM THE TREE GODDESS

Spring is not a good time to prune your trees because all that new growth is ready spring to life and all the little birdies are looking for homes to build their nests so hold off a while on those planned trimming jobs.

TREE HOT LINE NUMBER
If you see someone cutting a city tree call code enforcement at 323-484-6516 or the sheriff's
Department at 911. Also take down the license plate number of the pruning company vehicle and take a picture of the people cutting the tree.

WISH LIST

· A designated room for our monthly meetings
· A bookkeeper for year end accounting
· A pro bono attorney
· A computer

City Officials Favorite Tree

Hernan Molina, deputy to Councilmember John Duran says his favorite tree is the Liquid Amber. He loves the shape of this good-looking tree and admires the excellent color changes it goes through fall.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to new members Cathryn Hahn and Donald Deluccio.

W.H.T.P.S. Officers

Angee Beckett-Director
Craig Ritchie-Assistant Director
Larisa Sutyagina-Secretary
RalphFeeley-Treasurer/Newsletter Editor
Konstantin Sutyagin-Graphic Designer/Webmaster
Silva Blackstone-CertifiedArborist
Geoffrey Buck-Papa Daddy of the Baby Trees

Help West Hollywood Tree Preservation Society by becoming a member today or by sponsoring one of our projects. Your tax-deductible contribution of any size is appreciated.
WHTPS is a California Non-profit Corporation, 501 ( C ) 3 Fed. ID 95-4858080

Copyright © 2001WHTPS. All rights reserved.
Graphics and Web Site Design by