A Nigerian medical doctor, Matthew Bernard, and his wife are facing a hefty fine of nearly $1 million after Oakland's City Council ruled they illegally cut down 38 protected trees on and around their Claremont Avenue property.
The decision, reported by California media platform KQED, followed a public hearing where over 20 residents advocated for the enforcement of Oakland's tree protection laws.
Residents emphasized the critical role these trees play in wildfire prevention, public health, and environmental equity.
While Bernard and his partner, Lynn Warner, claimed they acted on an arborist's advice, stating the trees were "dead, dying, leaning," or "hazardous," the city disagreed.
The couple has been fined $915,135.40, and a claim has been placed on their property, preventing its development or sale until the fine is settled.
Erys Gagnez, a community tree specialist, defended the significant penalty, explaining that "trees of that size are not commercially available for replacement.
Even with replanting, it will take decades, even centuries, to restore the ecological and protective functions that were lost. The scale of the fine reflects this reality."
Credit: the Punch
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