City Steps In, Halts ‘Massacre’ of Temple Trees

Buddhists upset over fallen leaves outside their downtown Los Angeles temple were ordered by city officials Thursday to turn over a new leaf and quit pruning the culprit trees.

Department of Public Works administrators ordered a halt to unauthorized pruning of four 25-year-old ficus trees at the corner of 1st and Vignes streets after passersby complained that the chopping was turning into “The Vignes Chain Saw Massacre.”

Operators of the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple declined to discuss the tree trimming. But they told city officials that they were disturbed by leaves that fell from the branches.

“They’ve been hacking on the trees all week,” said Susan Seager, whose office at the Daily Journal legal newspaper is nearby. “These are the only trees on this part of the street. They were snapping off the branches and leaving them splintered; they ruined the trees.”

City Street Tree Division chief Bob Kennedy said the temple will be required to hire a professional tree surgeon to repair the damage. “It will take drastic pruning to give these trees back their balance,” he said.

Chopping city trees without permission is a misdemeanor, Kennedy said. He ordered temple leaders to obtain permits and use proper pruning techniques next time.