2 San Diego Uptown News | Jan. 21-Feb. 3, 2011 TREE


Hillcrest Town Council, imploring the advisory group to support sav- ing the tree, a decision the council unanimously endorsed. “Everybody kind of jumped into action, got on board, saw there was really the need to come to the aid of a neighbor: It was great,” Moors said. “I think that’s why it was saved. If people had not mobilized … it would have come down fairly quickly.” Vigil credits the individual he


turned to next: KUSI television investigative reporter and con- sumer watchdog Michael Turko, for really turning the situation around. Turko did a TV spot profiling Filbert’s tree, which, it turns out,


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had been slated for removal due to a federally mandated wheel- chair ramp replacement program requiring the city of San Diego to tear down and replace existing ramps. In turn, this construction would have forced the city to re- move the tree too. “I told him (Turko) putting the ramps in was fine—but not at the expense of a 100-year-old tree,” Vigil said.


Between Turko’s TV spot and involvement by the office of Third District Councilmember Todd Gloria and Luke Terpstra, Hillcrest Town councilmember, things began to move in a positive direction for Filbert’s tree. “We contacted the Commu-


nity Forestry Advisory Board and they started looking into having the tree designated as a ‘heritage’ tree (to protect it) and requested


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a meeting with the city’s street division,” Terpstra said. “That’s when the street division started backing down and saying ‘there are things we can do around this tree other than taking it down.’ ” “That tree is staying,” con-


firmed Hasan Yousef, deputy di- rector of the city’s street division. “The tree will not be harmed.” Analysis and testing proved


the tree is stable, said Yousef, who admitted public sentiment for saving it unquestionably weighed against its removal. “We always listen to what the people say and we work with the community,” he said. “We know the significance of this tree.” Vigil’s vigilance in helping to save a community landmark has earned him communitywide rec- ognition, Terpstra said. “We’re going to give him one of our L.I.O.N. (Let’s Improve Our Neighborhood) Awards,” he said. “Generally, we give these out to someone who has done some- thing to improve their property, make a corner look better, keep their storefronts clean, etc. We said this is perfect for Filbert.” Vigil said saving the tree is


preserving history. “It’s just outlasted everything


around,” Vigil said. “It’s one of the original things of Hillcrest.” Now the tree can continue as a community symbol and landmark, a truly “natural” resource, said Terpstra.


“It is one beautiful tree,” he said. “It blooms every year with its red flowers.” Talking about what saving “Fil-


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bert’s tree” has meant to the com- munity, Vigil concluded, “We just proved we’re a force to be reck- oned with in Hillcrest. ...That’s the best part.”u


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