USA: The iconic palm tree is in danger of losing its prominence in Los Angeles with a new law passed by the L.A. City Council

Record ID: 373147

  • Title: USA: The iconic palm tree is in danger of losing its prominence in Los Angeles with a new law passed by the L.A. City Council
  • Date: 9th December 2006
  • Summary: VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF VAN NUYS MUNICIPAL BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOS ANGELES COUNCILWOMAN JANICE HAHN, SAYING: "What came to my attention was a satellite image of Los Angeles, and it actually depicted that we only had about 17 percent of our city had the shade canopy from trees that, compared to other cities in the country who have close to like 28 percent shade canopy, made me think, you know, in the future, when we have the opportunity to plant trees, while palm trees are certainly symbolic of Los Angeles, why don't we look at planting more shade trees in Los Angeles."
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVA9FIMMHKMJF4DMTRCM2K43B4C3
  • Story Text: Tourists visiting Los Angeles in the future may get a considerably different view of the city than the colorful images of the city that can be found on most postcards. Officials in the United States' second largest city recently decided to opt for more shade cover when they passed a new ordinance that lessens the focus on planting palm trees and promotes instead the leafy, shady deciduous trees that are native to California.
    "What came to my attention was a satellite image of Los Angeles, and it actually depicted that we only had about 17 percent of our city had the shade canopy from trees that, compared to other cities in the country who have close to like 28 percent shade canopy, made me think, you know, in the future, when we have the opportunity to plant trees, while palm trees are certainly symbolic of Los Angeles, why don't we look at planting more shade trees in Los Angeles," says Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn.
    Hahn is quick to point out that Los Angeles will not ban any varieties of palms completely and will not remove them from areas where the tropical trees are to be expected, such as Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills and lining promenades on the Pacific Ocean. What tourists can expect to see is a more diverse forest landscape, all part of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's campaign to plant one million trees in Los Angeles. Still, the palm will not be forgotten, and will be available to residents who still want them, but the city's supply of the trees will decrease in the future. Specifically, planting of the Mexican Fan palm be heavily limited because the tree can reach heights over 100 feet tall and require constant upkeep. The move has groups like the Southern California Palm Society, who want the iconic image of the city to remain intact, slightly displeased with the L.A. City Council.
    "You can't grow palm trees in, say Minnesota or Massachusetts, so people come here and this is what they want to see, the look of the tropics, especially in the wintertime. They don't want to see deciduous trees which they left at home, they love to see something that's warm. Palm trees give off a warmth, even in the wintertime you can have a frosty day and if you have palm trees it looks warm. You can have a deciduous tree on a warm day and it looks cold," says Bill Dickinson of the Southern California Palm Society.
    Like the ficus trees that have uprooted sidewalks since their introduction to the city more than fifty years ago, palms have also become too costly for Los Angeles' budget. Every year, millions of taxpayer's dollars are spent every year settling lawsuits spurned from falling palm fronds and general upkeep. Palms are also easily susceptible to disease and are not as clean-air friendly as deciduous trees, a must-have in city with such poor air quality. On the upside, however, palms are considered evergreen, and won't remain unattractively leafless for six months as Oaks and Sycamores will. Even still, residents and visitors do not like the idea of the iconic image of Los Angeles tampered with, an image that has been depicted for decades in countless films and television programs, postcards, and picture books.
    "I'm dumbstruck. They're the icon of Los Angeles. Palm tree, Los Angeles, They're synonymous with each other, and they're phasing them out?" says Los Angeles resident David Franklin.
    "Well, I'm born and raised in L.A., it's like the palm trees are a part of LA, it's like Hollywood. You see any postcards, you always see palm trees with the sign behind, you know," says Los Angeles Resident Raymond Garza.
    "Well, I think the palm trees are a part of Los Angeles, it's a cultural thing. It would be a big mistake to take them out," says Los Angeles visitor Julius Lami.
    So can tourists still count on seeing the palm-laden L.A. skyline when they get off the plane in the winter months? Yes, says Hahn:
    "We'll have our palm trees, but we'll also have a lot of other diverse varieties of trees, so maybe when they get off the plane, they'll just see more trees. But certainly, the palm tree will never go away -- it will grace postcards and views on the Rose Parade route, so certainly palm trees aren't going anywhere," says Los Angeles Coucilwoman Janice Hahn.
    Much like the automobile, another prominent Los Angeles fixture.
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