Activists, including two teenagers and an arborist, climbed a large pine tree Saturday to protest the Pasadena Unified School District's plan to remove nearly 200 trees for a soil remediation project. The demonstration highlights an escalating conflict involving protests, legal action, and a dispute between the city and the school district.
Friends of PUSD Trees organized a peaceful protest outside Muir High School, where participants displayed signs and chanted slogans. The central focus of the demonstration was a group of individuals equipped with climbing harnesses ascending a tree to symbolize their connection to nature and opposition to the planned removals. Jessica Richards, a co-founder of the group, described the experience as fostering a sense of unity with nature, even amidst an urban setting.
The controversy stems from the aftermath of the January 2025 Eaton fire, which spread toxic ash across Pasadena and Altadena. Following recommendations from the city's Public Health Department, the school district conducted soil testing and identified contamination, primarily lead, at several campuses. The district entered into an agreement with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control for cleanup operations, with 11 campuses, including Muir and Blair high schools, remaining to be remediated before the 2025-2026 school year.
In February, the district informed the DTSC of its plan to remove 193 trees as part of the remediation, including some protected by the city's ordinance. Initially, the district believed permits would not be necessary. However, community opposition intensified when trees began to be removed. Nina Raj, a member of Friends of PUSD Trees, halted further removals by chaining herself to a tree, which remains standing despite partial damage. Arborists have criticized the district's approach, suggesting alternative remediation methods that would preserve the trees.
Critics argue that the toxic contamination is localized rather than widespread, suggesting it predates the fires and does not warrant the urgent removal of so many trees. Friends of PUSD Trees has proposed a counter-plan involving isolating contaminated areas and utilizing phytoremediation. The city of Pasadena reversed its initial stance on June 25, informing the district that the project requires permits under the tree protection ordinance. City inspectors posted stop-work orders, which were reportedly removed by district officials who also blocked inspectors. The city obtained a warrant for inspection, and subsequently, the school board voted to initiate litigation and declared city zoning ordinances inapplicable to school sites.
Despite the district's modified plan to spare some trees, Friends of PUSD Trees remains unconvinced. Richards stated that the remaining trees are mature and valuable. The group aims for Saturday's event to be an opportunity for community engagement and celebration of trees, rather than solely a protest. The climbers, including 17-year-olds Paloma Muñiz-Ochoa and Maia Atkinson, were prepared to remain in the trees to prevent further removals, with Muñiz-Ochoa expressing a strong commitment to continued advocacy.
