---
[ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)
# Begging for Help! Trying to Save the Last Living 100 Year Old Silver Maple … and the Bees … on Emelita (Video)
June 30 2014
Written by Carol Rippy.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
***SHERMAN OAKS***-The last living Silver Maple Tree of those that once lined Emelita street planted over 100 years ago on the 14200 block ordered to be cut down (although healthy and no risk to anyone) in order to remove three 30 year old passive honey bee colonies.
Residents conduct protest and fight back against city policy to destroy native habitat and remove trees prior to investigating whether they pose a risk to anyone or any property.
Policy is in strict conflict with Backyard Honey Bee Box campaign which provides residents with privilege to have temporary bee hives - in contrast to decades old permanent colonies already in place which are being destroyed by the hundreds as well as the old growth trees in which they thrive.
LA City street department responds to 311 calls made by any person making a bee complaint by cutting down trees and suffocating honey bee colonies without verifying veracity of complaint, performing a cursory risk assessment, or identifying the type of bees it destroys.
Natural habitat is being decimated, hundreds of LA's oldest trees are vanishing, and millions of European honey bees vanishing across the Southland.
**One neighborhood in Sherman Oaks is begging for assistance** to save their beloved tree and its honey bees, and begging for a response from from LA City Councilman LaBonge and Parks Committee Chairman O'Farrell. A policy clarification and the intent of such a policy is requested by the residents.
**IMPORTANT INFO:**
The Sherman Oaks Residents call their campaign for LA City Council awareness of the situation - "Don't Be a Buzz Kill" and the video of their recent protest in Sherman Oaks **[can be seen here:](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Szhw6RCQ85Nm02MVFoVXo3dm8/edit?usp=sharing)**
Homeowner and Tree Owner: Carol Rippy
Campaign Volunteers - Madison Hindman, Betsy Dietrich, and Karen Cini
***Video and ‘call for help’ provided CityWatch by Don W. Hall.***
CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 53
Pub: Jul 1, 2014
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Message
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)
### [L.A. County Faces a Government Shake-Up](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)
WESTSIDE - Currently larger than 40 states in terms of population with roughly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33386-massacre-on-city-streets-mayor-bass-must-issue-an-emergency-declaration-now)
### [Massacre on City Streets: Mayor Bass Must Issue an Emergency Declaration Now](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33386-massacre-on-city-streets-mayor-bass-must-issue-an-emergency-declaration-now)
NICK'S VIEW - I have previously written about Los Angeles’s grim paradox: a city that promises safer streets while bein…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)
### [The Greater Israel Delusion May Undo Israel](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)
ANNEXATION - The vision of “Greater Israel” draws on maximalist readings of biblical verses, especially Genesis 15:18–2…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33365-sherwood-forest-when-an-adu-becomes-an-apartment-complex)
### [Sherwood Forest. When an ADU Becomes an Apartment Complex](https://www.citywatchla.com/neighborhood-politics/33365-sherwood-forest-when-an-adu-becomes-an-apartment-complex)
OP|ED - If anyone asks what my priority issues are in the legislature, I talk about the three Hs - housing, homelessnes…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-watchdog/33395-should-dwp-ratepayers-pay-for-the-citys-streetlights)
### [Should DWP Ratepayers Pay for the City’s Streetlights? ](https://www.citywatchla.com/la-watchdog/33395-should-dwp-ratepayers-pay-for-the-citys-streetlights)
LA WATCHDOG - In June, 80% of Los Angeles voters rejected the Bureau of Street Lighting’s ballot measure to increase th…
---
## [ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)### [Early Intervention and Jobs are Key to Stemming Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)
### [Tucker Carlson and Gay Rightwinger Blame California Wildfires On Hiring LGBTQ People](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/18755-tucker-carlson-and-gay-rightwinger-blame-california-wildfires-on-hiring-lgbtq-people)
### [Anti-LGBTQ Veep Just Can’t Stop Talking about Mayor Pete](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/17690-anti-lgbtq-veep-just-can-t-stop-talking-about-mayor-pete)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)### [NEWS PULSE: ‘Corrupt System’ Reason for Not Voting in 2018 … Majority Wants More Than Two Parties](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)### [Dead Dog Set on Fire … Sparks Fears for Strays in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)