23 Ficus Down:

The City took down 23 ficus trees on 2nd and 4th Streets downtown between 6:00 and 11:30 on Friday morning, May 16. City Manager Lamont Ewell issued a statement on Thursday, May 15, after the California Court of Appeal on May 14 vacated the temporary stay order it had previously issued on March 7, 2008: “I am pleased that the Courts have upheld the City’s position and that we may now move forward to enhance these streets and protect public safety. The City intends to proceed with the removal of 23 trees that are structurally unstable, and implement the other improvements.”