The Oakland City Council in California has begun a debate on whether to impose a $1m fine on a Nigerian man, Matthew Bernard, for allegedly felling 38 protected trees on his property in the United States.
Bernard, a medical doctor, cut down dozens of protected trees without a permit in 2021 and 2022, sparking a heated argument among city officials and environmental advocates.
The incident has drawn the attention of Oakland council members, who described the removal of the 38 mature trees by Bernard and his domestic partner, LynnWarner, from their property and nearby areas as a “clear violation of local environmental regulations.”
Arborists said the trees were removed not only on the couple’s undeveloped plot along Claremont Avenue in the upscale Oakland Hills, but also on public land and neighbouring properties.
In a report by the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail, city lawmakers and tree experts said the act posed environmental degradation and safety risks.
Environmental groups, therefore, urged the Oakland City Council to impose the maximum $1m penalty, warning that failure to do so could embolden others to disregard laws protecting urban forests.
One advocate described the action as treating “our land like trash” and urged authorities to set a strong precedent.
Bernard, who relocated to the US in 2001, told the council that the trees were felled after an arborist’s advice, warning him that some posed wildfire risks.
The doctor said he and his partner acted in good faith and tried to comply with regulations, a claim disputed by city officials who argued he failed to obtain permits for the felling.
However, a council member, Carroll Fife, defended Bernard during the hearing on Tuesday, arguing that imposing the full fine on the Nigerian could be unfair.
She cautioned on racial issues, stating that it would be troubling for a Black man to be the first to be penalised for actions she suggested had previously gone unpunished among white residents.
“I have to express my confusion about how a Black man should be the first to receive consequences for things that white people have been doing for centuries,” Fife said.
She also pointed to the historical exclusion of minorities from the Oakland Hills, describing the area as one developed primarily for white residents.
Countering her, a fellow council member, Janani Ramachandran, criticised the justification, describing it as “offensive,” and insisting that healthy oak trees are generally fire-resistant.
While acknowledging the challenges immigrants may face in navigating property laws in the US, Ramachandran said such difficulties did not allow what he called a “blatant violation” of city rules.
Following a tense debate, the council was divided on the issue, and an initial vote on whether to impose the $1m fine ended in a tie, with three members opposing and four supporting the penalty, while a member was absent.
A subsequent vote to reduce the fine to $411,000 also ended in a deadlock.
With no clear resolution, the decisionrests on a future council meeting scheduled for May 5, after the city’s mayor declined to intervene and break the tie.
Cc: punch