Letter to the Editor: Save San Vicente's Trees

The following letter to the editor was submitted by Fred Alexander:

For those of us who live along San Vicente Boulevard, the magnolia trees along the sidewalks from Ocean to 26th Street present a beautiful, consistent canopy while complementing the coral trees in the center median. The magnolias produce showy, fragrant white flowers, have a beautiful canopy, provide needed shade and privacy, attract songbirds that eat their seeds, and withstand pests and disease.

The current draft of the Santa Monica Urban Forest Master Plan proposes to replace our magnolias from Ocean to Seventh Street as replacements are needed over time with smaller, narrower trees that have red flowers and a very short flowering period. Yet the plan proposes to keep magnolias as the designated replacement trees for the 19 blocks along San Vicente from Seventh Street to 26th Street as the magnolias there need replacing. 

We strongly object to phasing out the magnolia trees along our small stretch of San Vicente. It would needlessly differentiate this apartment/condo stretch of San Vicente from Ocean to Seventh Street from the single-family homes stretching along the rest of the boulevard to 26th Street. The magnolias along our stretch are doing very well as a general rule, as are the ones east of Seventh Street. In fact, magnolia trees adapt well to their particular site and will tolerate sporadic irrigation once established.

Fortunately, this plan is just a draft and not yet set in stone. We urge you to be heard on the issue while there is still time. To review the proposal, just look up San Vicente Blvd online at SantaMonicaTrees.com.

If you agree that magnolias should be the designated replacement trees all along San Vicente, including along our portion from Ocean to Seventh Street, please send an e-mail to trees@smgov.net. Or mail your comments to Ms. Heidi Said, Public Landscape Division, Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Or come to one of the two meetings at 's Thelma Terry Building on Wednesday or Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m.