The Office of the Los Angeles City Controller is currently conducting an investigation into the trimming of trees near Universal Studios property. These trees provided much-needed shade and relief from the intense heat for members of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA who were on strike. City Controller Kenneth Mejia announced the investigation on Twitter, sharing photos of the trees before and after they were trimmed. Mejia expressed concern over the trimming of the trees, which are managed by the city, while workers, writers, and actors were exercising their right to picket.
The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, representing thousands of Hollywood actors, went on strike after failing to reach agreements on new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents television studios and streaming services. Key issues for the unions included residual pay and the use of artificial intelligence.
NBC Universal, which owns Universal Studios, denied intentionally harming or obstructing picketers through the tree trimming. The company stated that it trims trees near its property annually and that it was not aware of the unintended challenges faced by the demonstrators. NBC Universal assured its support for the unions’ right to demonstrate and pledged to work towards providing shade coverage.
The trees fall under the jurisdiction of the city and are maintained by StreetsLA, which can issue trimming permits to businesses. Mejia revealed on Twitter that no trimming permits had been issued for the past three years, including the recent trimming near Universal Studios.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman stated that the Urban Forestry Division and StreetsLA were investigating the possibility of issuing a citation regarding the tree trimming. These trees have been crucial in providing relief from the extreme heat in Los Angeles, with temperatures reaching the mid-90s this week.
In summary, the investigation into the tree trimming near Universal Studios, which impacted picketers from the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, highlights the importance of maintaining appropriate shade and cooling measures during extreme heat conditions. The city, in collaboration with NBC Universal, is working towards rectifying the situation and ensuring the well-being of the demonstrators.
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