Tree removal at the Gill Tract completed

A green layer of spray covers the land where 184 Monterey pines grew at the Gill Tract of Albany. Wildflowers and grass are expected to grow out of the mixture of seeds and mulch. The controversial tree-removal, started in late January, has been completed by workers contracted by the University of California.

UC refuses to make commitment to Albany on replanting trees

Negotiation between the University of California at Berkeley and the city of Albany is going on as the 184 diseased Monterey pines at the Gill Tract in Albany are being cut down. Photo by Linjun Fan.

The University of California at Berkeley agreed to satisfy several of Albany’s requests on its tree-cutting project at the Gill Tract, including surveying the site for hawk nests and testing the trees for radioactive materials, but refused to make commitment on replanting trees.

The City of Albany withdrew its opposition to the removal of 184 diseased Monterey pines at the tract last week, but gave the university a list of requests* in the meantime.

UC starts cutting down trees at the Gill Tract; Albany withdraws its opposition

A sign put up by the University of California at Berkeley at the Gill Tract in Albany. Photo by Linjun Fan.

The University of California at Berkeley started cutting down 184 trees at the Gill Tract Monday after the city of Albany backs down on its opposition to the cutting.

Workers contracted by the university have brought down several diseased Monterey pines Monday, and will remove about 180 more in the following two weeks.

Albany City Councilmember Joanne Wile said that she had changed her mind after a visit to the pine grove last Thursday.

Commentary: The trees should be removed if they are a public safety hazard

Albany resident Freyja Knapp wrote a commentary on the tree-cutting controversy, responding to previous comments on the issue:

As a current Albany resident I’d like to add my comments to this discussion of tree removal. I agree that a comprehensive plan needs to be determined and made public – and with real community participation in the development of the plan. However, I also agree that sick trees should be removed – and now or in 10/20 years matters little to me.

Albany City Council votes to slow down UC’s tree-cutting project

An extractor has been sent by UC’s contractor, ready to cut down 184 Monterey pines at the Gill Tract in Albany next week. Photo by Linjun Fan.

Albany urged University of California at Berkeley to suspend its plan to cut down several hundred pines on the Gill Tract, otherwise it would seek a court injunction to intervene, according to a resolution passed unanimously at the Albany City Council Tuesday.

Commentary: Mayor Lieber should listen to the experts on the tree-cutting issue

Albany resident and UC employee Brian Parsley wrote a commentary on the university’s tree-cutting plan on the Gill Tract:

I am an Albany resident who is also a UC employee. I am responding as a resident and not a spokesperson for the University. I find it interesting that mayor Lieber believes that not all the trees on UC Property need to come down. He has previously stated that he intends to “slow down” the process of the infected trees removal even though they may pose a hazard to people and property on nearby sidewalks and streets. It might serve the mayor to defer these matters to city staff before making comments to the press.

Commentary: Mayor Lieber is speaking for the majority of Albany residents

Albany resident and Chairman of Albany Waterfront Committee Brian Parker wrote a commentary on the controversy over UC’s tree-cutting plan at the Gill Tract, responding to a previous commentary on Albany Today:

“I am sure that Mayor Lieber is speaking for the majority of Albany residents when he asks the University to slow down the rush to log the Gill tract trees and to engage the community in looking at alternatives. The Gill Tract trees are one of the most recognizable features of Albany. Like Albany Hill they help define the community. I know I am home after a trip when I see the Gill tract trees. UC has had long term plans to develop the entire Gill tract property. Removing the trees removes one more potential roadblock to the development of the entire property. The trees have been on the property over 40 years and we now face a crisis that requires the removal of 200 trees now?

Okawachi’s speech fires up discussion on racial discrimination in Albany

 A high school student listened to Jewel Okawachi’s speech attentively while a senior looked at a map of a concentration camp in front. A large audience attended Okawachi’s speech on her internment experience during World War II at Albany Libary Monday, and a tense discussion on whether racial discrimination still exists in the city was aroused. Photo by Linjun Fan.

 When she was 14, Jewel Okawachi and her family were rounded up with several other Japanese families in Albany, ordered to take just what they could carry, and sent to a concentration camp in Arizona during World War II.