LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism

Last Saturday morning, Angelenos discovered dozens of downtown Los Angeles trees had been cut down overnight.

But, Alissa Walker points out in a piece in Torched, that’s not the only reason the city’s tree canopy is in danger. Urban forestry in Los Angeles faces deep cuts — and not just from a chainsaw-wielding vandal. Despite promising to “quickly replace” the damaged trees, Mayor Karen Bass released a 2025 budget that includes deep cuts to tree funding. In fact, “In its attempt to close a $1 billion deficit, the mayor's budget is bleak, recommending the layoffs of 1,647 workers and the closure of entire departments.”

Tighter budgets mean not only fewer trees planted but also fewer resources devoted to the maintenance and care of trees and surrounding sidewalks. “In 2021, the average number of days it took for city workers to address a tree emergency was 1. For the 2025 budget it's projected to take 4.” After similar cuts in 2008, sidewalks became so damaged that the city almost cut down 12,000 trees in an attempt to mitigate the problem. Using personal anecdotes, Walker outlines the many trees she has seen die out on L.A.’s streets.

Walker notes that “Particularly after the January fires, these decisions are irresponsible, if not downright reckless. On the heels of the worst climate disaster in LA history, the city plans to zero-out one of its best tools to mitigate extreme heat.”