The dispute between Hollywood studios and striking screenwriters and actors has taken an interesting turn around Universal Studios. Along a sidewalk outside the studio, there is a row of perfectly trimmed ficus trees that has become the center of attention. Some members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Writers Guild of America unions, along with supportive local politicians, suspect that the studio intentionally pruned the trees in order to eliminate shade for the picketing workers under the scorching Southern California sun. Despite this, the workers continued their protest on Wednesday, with one woman adorning a green wreath on her head and holding a sign featuring an image of a full, untrimmed tree and the words “Never Forget.”
“Universal, get your ducks in order. We don’t want to see any more shady nonsense because the people are watching,” stated Konstantine Anthony, a SAG-AFTRA member and the Democratic mayor of nearby Burbank. Although the stretch of Barham Boulevard where the trees were trimmed falls under Los Angeles jurisdiction and not within Burbank’s city limits, Anthony consulted with Los Angeles political leaders concerning the pruning. He added, “We couldn’t find any work orders for this specific tree trimming, which is problematic since Southern California has strict tree regulations. Normally, trimming doesn’t occur until October. In fact, there are trees of the same type and style just 200 feet away that remain untrimmed. But those trees aren’t providing shade for the picketers, are they?”
Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles City Council member representing Universal City, expressed in a statement that no permits were issued for tree trimming at the location. City Controller Kenneth Mejia confirmed that his office is currently investigating the matter. On the other hand, an NBCUniversal spokesperson informed the Hollywood Reporter that while the trimming unintentionally caused challenges for the demonstrators, it was not the studio’s intention. The spokesperson also mentioned that they are working on providing some shade coverage for the picketers.
(Read more Hollywood strike stories.)
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