Local News in Brief : Carob-Cutting Plan Fought
Residents in View Park and Windsor Hills are up in arms over a plan by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to cut down 326 diseased carob trees in front of their homes.
County inspectors surveyed the trees last summer and found evidence of dry rot, decay, fungus, termites and other maladies.
Alan Kelm, a county engineer, said Thursday that the tree removal was ordered because the county might be held liable if a diseased tree fell and caused injuries or property damage. The county has responsibility to maintain the trees between curbs and sidewalks.
It has offered to replace the trees at a cost of $500,000, but Leon Davis, a resident, said, “You can’t replace a big tree with one of those little eight-foot trees and say it’s even.” The removal of the trees has been delayed pending a community meeting at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 5840 La Tijera Blvd.
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