Activist Won’t Budge From His Lofty Perch

Undeterred by the sight of tree-cutting equipment and mounting pressure from Los Angeles County officials, activist John Quigley remained high in the boughs of an ancient oak near Santa Clarita Thursday night, determined to save it.

“They’re going to have to come up here and literally drag us out if they want to remove us,” said Quigley, who was joined by another activist in his 50-foot-high perch, while supporters rallied at the base of the tree.

A rotating group of tree huggers, led by Quigley, has maintained a 24-hour vigil atop the 400-year-old oak, nicknamed Old Glory, since Nov. 1, shortly after they learned it might be cut down.

On Thursday morning, officials from John Laing Homes, the developer of a neighboring subdivision, said the county was forcing them to remove the tree in order to widen two-lane Pico Canyon Road.

The road, located on the west side of the Santa Clarita Valley, will one day extend north through the proposed 20,000-home Newhall Ranch subdivision.

“They need a four-lane highway here,” said Laing president William Rattazzi. “My company is required to build the road.”

Thursday afternoon, the developer erected a chain-link fence around the tree and posted “no trespassing” signs. But sheriff’s officials said they could only arrest the tree sitters at the request of Laing officials, who have so far declined to do so.

Quigley said he had no intention of coming down until he is certain the tree can be saved. “It’s criminal to cut down a piece of our heritage,” said Quigley, a Pacific Palisades resident who said he makes his living doing contract work as an environmental educator.

As the sun went down, dozens of youths from a neighboring subdivision turned up to show their support by chanting, “Save our oak,” and, “May the trees be with you.”

But not everyone in the neighborhood shared their enthusiasm.

“It’s stupid,” said resident Byron Wainie as he took his dogs for a stroll. “God knows there’s people that’ll fight for anything.”