Vandals cut down nearly two dozen trees that blocked view of billboards

The mysterious felling of nearly two dozen trees near Los Angeles billboards has provoked finger-pointing between state officials and an advertising company while adding fuel to the debate about outdoor advertising in the city.

Vandals apparently equipped with chain saws hacked back the trees, which were part of a major landscaping initiative along the 405 and 10 freeways, said Daniel Freeman, the California Department of Transportation’s deputy district director for maintenance in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Freeman said the crude pruning job appeared to be aimed at making two large advertisements erected by the World Wide Rush advertising company more visible to drivers. “I can’t imagine why anyone else would want to cut down these trees,” Freeman said.

Paul Fisher, a Newport Beach lawyer representing World Wide Rush, acknowledged that the company had put up the ads but said it had nothing to do with the removal of any trees. He accused officials of looking for pretexts to get around federal rulings that have limited the city’s ability to contain the proliferation of digital signs and large vinyl or plastic ads stretched across the sides of buildings, known as “supergraphics.”

Critics contend the signs distracts drivers, pose a fire hazard and could hinder access by rescue crews. Advertising companies dispute the charges and accuse officials of limiting their right to free speech. In December, the Los Angeles City Council imposed a three-month moratorium on all new signs to buy time to rewrite its outdoor advertising regulations in a way that would withstand a court challenge.

Freeman said the trees were cut back in December and January, just before World Wide Rush put up two supergraphics advertising Tropicana juice on the walls of a parking structure at Sherman Oaks Galleria and another on the side of a six-story building on National Boulevard near the 10 Freeway.

They included a row of 15-foot Brisbane box evergreens near the Galleria, which were cut down to about three or four feet, Freeman said. Caltrans had planted the trees at a cost of between $2,500 and $3,000 each to screen off the 405 freeway, he said.

“I am particularly annoyed that these were the ones that got hit,” Freeman said, explaining that “these were essentially brand new.”

Five or six more trees were felled near the building on National Boulevard, he said, along with five belonging to the shopping mall. Katherine Defever, a Galleria representative, said mall officials were baffled when they noticed the destruction and had initially assumed that Caltrans officials were cutting back landscaping themselves.

Freeman said Caltrans was notified about the trees by the office of City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, which filed criminal charges in January against World Wide Rush and National Investment Co., owners of the building at 10801 National Blvd., for allegedly putting up an unauthorized sign and violating safety regulations.

The case against World Wide Rush was amended last week to include charges related to a new sign that went up on National in place of the Tropicana ad, said Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for Delgadillo’s office.
World Wide Rush contends the charges are in contempt of a federal ruling that found that a 2002 city ban on new billboards violated the U.S. Constitution. Although that decision is being appealed, the company won an injunction to prevent the city from enforcing its ban on World Wide Rush supergraphics at 34 buildings, including the one on National.

Freeman alleged that the sign on National also violates the California Outdoor Advertising Act, which gives Caltrans control over advertising displayed within 660 feet of the edge of a freeway. The department is conducting its own investigation into the matter, he said.

While Freeman hopes to replace the damaged landscaping, he said the department would not be able to afford to put in mature trees similar to the ones that were lost.

-- Alexandra Zavis

Photo: One of the trees crudely chopped down off the 405 Freeway near the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Several more trees were mysteriously cut down near National Blvd. Authorites are unsure of who is responsible for these amateur pruning jobs. Credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Matthew Bickell]

I really hate those signs. I can't tell you how pleased I am that the city is taking a stand against this disgusting blight.

[Mike]

Great story! Next time, maybe Sam Zell will actually spend a couple bucks on a story and let you send a photographer.

[Vic Arpeggio]

Well, this results in one thing as far as I'm concerned-- I'm never drinking Tropicana orange juice again. I HATE billboard advertising to begin with -- and "supergraphics" even worse -- and wish only ill will to the likes of World Wide Rush, a company whose actions here clearly redefine the word "sleazy."

[chad]

A high-profile boycott of all things Tropicana and Pepsi (their corporate parent) could go a long way to get those trees replaced.

[William Hartman]

One of the ironies behind these blatant acts of vandalism is that World Wide Rush LLC, is a home-based business, located in a small town in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, one of the best preserved rural landscapes in the country. With the detachment one can achieve from behind a PC, Barry Rush must be comfortable overseeing an advertising agency that pushes the boundaries of local laws to pimp products at a scale and intensity that completely overwhelms the environment. He couldn't do what he does anywhere close to home.

[Paul]

The city should start pulling down these signs. Free speech rights should be for people, not corporations.

World Wide Rush's product is blight.

[Timothy from Crestline CA]

Why are people NOT IN JAIL?

Justice is only for those who can afford the price and the going rate for a judge these days is about 3 million.

A good deal at current rates I guess.

Consumers should contact the advertisers and tell them they will boycott their products until these signs are removed and the trees are replanted the same size.

That would get their attention.

Sign advertisement is NOT a First Amendment issue, it's a marketing and sales issue.

[Jenny]

More disturbing...there is a company out there that has put up unauthorized signs and may have had vandals destroy both private and public property. There is no way this was a random act of vandalism. They're hiding behind "free speech"; but they just robbed the taxpayers while ignoring public interest--it's all just greed. These are criminals. Free speech needs to be defended but its value is being wasted by telemarketing, advertising, and libel.

[Ron]

Advertisment agencies are trying to spin visual pollution as expressions of free speech? Hello?

[Edmund]

I agree, a email campaign and boycott would help get the message across. Also, having the advertisers pay to replace the trees as part of the fine; plus community service for the CEOs.

Obviously, someone thinks ENRON is still ok, and that the old policies are still in force.

[dave]

I didnt really care about these signs until on a recent trip i saw 8 of them installed on the Scenic Byway of hghway 395 just north of Independence,Ca.Eight giant vegas-style billboards ruining a beautiful view.I recently noticed several large ones going up in sherman oaks and noted how ugly and obnoxious they are.I feel sorry for people who live near these at night when they are illuminated.I will be contacting my councilman to rectify this blight.

[dudueman1961]

Help! police! I am the victim of a 'drive-by pruning'!!

[Taggart]

I can't imagine why CalTrans would have control over advertising on PRIVATE PROPERTY, regardless of its proximity to a freeway.

[stu]

I'm so disgusted by the lack of conscience shown and perpetrated by companies and corporations these days. All they truly care about is money and profit - at the expense of entirely everything else. To chop down and kill these mature trees - yes, living things, World Wide Rush - really ought to be a crime. What message do we send if World Wide Rush gets away with this? Hope justice will be served.

[Riley]

Although it might be hard to prove in court, it's obvious to me the vandalism was influenced by World Wide Rush. I don't do business with them, but any firm that does won't get my custom. Starting with Tropicana: until they stop advertising with them, no more Tropicana Orange Juice for me.

[Barbara Broide]

The trees that were felled, on CALTRANS property, belonged to all the people of California. They helped to create a greenbelt for the community adjacent to the freeway at the 10 and were a lovely bit of nature adjacent to a large, noisy and busy freeway. How dare a profit making business come in and steal our trees in what is worse than an act of vandalism. This is a premeditated crime done in the dark of night, stealing our trees, our privacy, and our property. There are laws pertaining to the regulation of advertising and it is the City of LA that is pursuing the signage that was placed adjacent to the freeways. However, it is CALTRANS and the taxpayers who seem to be left holding the bill for tree replacements, proper removal of the hideous stumps, etc. I say make the sign company pay for it all... and more. This is a rogue operator wasting our City and State's resources for its own gain. Advertiser dollars placed in newspapers, on local tv and radio have a far better impact on the local economy than these giant signs that benefit a very few and do much harm.

[Katarina]

The billboards I could care less about. What is more important is that trees were damaged. That is unforgivable, those trees benefit us all.
Really glad I do not use any of those products, and if I need to buy orange juice, I know what not to buy.
Much rather have trees then billboards, they benefit everyone. I **RARELY** buy anything I see on billboards...
Now if we can just get rid of the 500 or more lapband billboards in the city.. so sick of seeing those

[Tommy]

Now the million-dollar question: which Villaraigosa crony running in the upcoming election will actually take a stand against this insidious & evil disregard for public property? Delgadillo only reluctantly does anything at all.

[Call me Cassandra]

Those who agree, let's be sure that we write letters (not emails) to the heads of the companies being advertised on these monstrosities and let them know that we won't buy products being advertised in ways that assault our eyes.

[Bill G]

Matthew,

The city and our corrupt officials are more responsible than any other for the out of control signs we have everywhere.

[stephanie]

Maybe we should go down to Los Angeles city hall and bring bright lights or cars or moving billborads with lights. There needs be a REAL movement that doesn't fizzle out. Don't trust Antonio or Rocky to get stuff done.

[Steve]

LA Times - these are not "vandals" ripping down trees. Saying "vandals" suggest that this is some sort of "random act." This is a premeditated act paid for by WORLD WIDE RUSH. They are criminals who consistenly and flagrantly violate the building codes of our city, and are destroying our visual and physical landscape to make money. They assume no one will stop them. BOYCOTT PEPSI & TROPICANA!

[ShameOnFrankRahban]

I don't think all the blame should be put on the outdoor advertisers. Building owners need to say "No" to this blight. Building owners pimp out their buildings (the prostitutes) to johns (advertisers) Frank Rahban, the owner of two buildings with supergraphics should be driving a pimped out Cadillac instead of a Mercedes.
LA is a corrupt place and it won't change anytime soon unless people protest this. The proliferation of supergraphics in Los Angeles is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to corruption in this town.

[lsm]

Those who have mentioned boycott may be on to something. Honolulu's Outdoor Circle organized a highly successful boycott of products advertised on billboards and of stores selling these products to drive this blight out of their islands. Although living in nothing so insular as the Honolulu of 90 years ago, perhaps some civic-minded dynamos here in LA would help organize a local effort which can circumvent contemptible billboard companies and the elected officials who pander to them?