Community in Mourning after UC Berkeley Destroys 60 Trees on Historic Gill Tract Arboretum

Early this morning, 60 trees were cut down on the southern acreage of the Gill Tract.

The UC’s move to begin clearing the way for their proposed housing and shopping complex came as a shock to farmers and neighbors, as there is an active lawsuit on appeal in the county courts, contesting the development’s detrimental environmental impact.

Knowing the community would mobilize to defend the trees, the UC hired a huge demolition team, cutting down the trees with lightening speed. The last trees were in the process of being destroyed at 9am, as farm supporters arrived.

In response, students and community gathered outside the office of Capital Projects, the department in charge of property development, and we will be at the land tonight to hold space for grieving the loss of the historic arboretum, and discussing next steps.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECqcHMOedc0#t=18
Health Impacts of the Development: https://sealstudents.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/health-impacts-of-the-proposed-development.pdf

STATEMENTS FOR THE PRESS:

“This is structural violence. They have come and destroyed the trees, and they brought their security forces with them. They were in and out before anyone could do anything about it. They took everything.” - Hank Herrera

“The 60 trees that were cut down present a massive environmental injustice to the local community. This area has long been known for its dangerous air pollution from the freeway and the Pacific Steel Casting factories. It is already in the 78th percentile for asthma, and this destruction is happening right next to children in Oceanview Elementary and the University Village. The EIR highlights that the proposed development would be bringing in 6,500 new cars per day on Monroe street. This has got to be stopped, and we must replant.” Vanessa Raditz

“UC Berkeley’s determination to develop the Gill Tract at all costs reveals the privatization of a university that is not meeting the needs of or representing its students or community. This has been a 20 year struggle, one that does not end with the destruction of trees. The Gill Tract has been suddenly and violently altered, but our courage to envision more fuels our fight to defend this soil.” - Camille Fassett

BACKGROUND:

The Gill Tract is 20 acres of historic farmland just west of UC Berkeley in Albany, part of which operates as a community farm and part of which is slated for commercial development by UC Berkeley. Originally Ohlone land, it is the last class 1 soil in the East Bay and none is permanently protected. Students and community members have fought development plants on the Gill Tract for over 17 years, demanding instead that UC Berkeley enter into a collaborative dialogue with students and the community for the future of the land.

Clear and constant opposition to the development of the south side of the Gill Tract has taken a variety of forms, including a petition with over 2,500 signatures, acts of civil disobedience, and meetings with administration. In October 2014, Students for Engaged and Active Learning (SEAL), the campus group on campus representing student opposition, held a sit-in in capital projects and demanded a meeting with Chancellor Dirks. The meeting, which took place in November, revealed an University whose administration are driven by profit and fail to meet their obligation as a public university. UC Berkeley’s failure to provide transparency in its decision making and meet the needs of its students reveals its increasing privatization. The fight to protect the Gill Tract is a microcosm of the struggle over land privatization everywhere, and has inspired community solidarity and widespread attention.

A recently produced documentary “Occupy the Farm”, released internationally, documented the 2012 struggle over the Gill Tract in which students, community members, and faculty united in opposition to the development and occupied the farm for over 2 weeks. After the occupation, Whole Foods, the grocery store proposed to be developed on the land, backed out of their lease agreement.

UC President Napolitano’s recently announced ‘Global Food Initiative’ has set the stage for the University to recognize its student leaders, and to take concrete actions necessary to realize the potential of the Gill Tract. The Tract is uniquely suited to meet the cornerstone goals of President Napolitano’s Food Initiative: farming, economics, culture, and public health for a model food system. Development would increase pollution, pave over historic farmland, and destroy opportunities to realize community visions..