Welcome to my website. My name is Andre Leroux. I am a lifetime Redondo Beach resident. I am an advocate for the environment but do not work for any environmental groups.

The purpose of this website is to bring attention to a problem which is escalating. The City of Redondo Beach is charging me for violating their anti-tree ordinance/law. This law is on the books but it is dormant and never enforced until there is a disgruntled neighbor. After doing some research, I have discovered estimated over 30% of properties in Redondo Beach are affected by this ordinance. Massive enforcement of this ordinance will cause the City of Redondo Beach to lose over 30% of their mature trees.

On June 17, I responded to the City of Redondo Beach’s code enforcement letter, I requested a call so I can understand their complaint and discuss how we can resolve. Without any response to my letter, I just received yesterday a Notice of Arrangement as the City of Redondo Beach filed a criminal complaint against me for my trees.

I have reached out to code enforcement via certified US mail to have a discussion. Their response was this Notice of Arraignment. On 7/21/2024, I sent an email to the City Manager, mayor, and all council members to have a discussion about this matter. I have never received any response from them. This week I reached out to the city prosecutor but they refused to meet with me. The City of Redondo Beach does not want to resolve this matter. Zero communication from them. They just want to pursue charging me with this ordinance infraction.

On Monday 7/29/2024, I went to the Torrance Superior Courthouse to get a copy of the complaint. Spoke with the county clerk and they stated it was not filed yet and they have up to a year to file it. I did not understand how they can have an arraignment without a filing. They suggested to go to the City of Redondo Beach police department to talk with them. I drove over the the RBPD and requested a copy of the file. They stated they would contact me when it was available. As of today 8/3/2024, I have not received any call from them. Considering my arraignment date is on Monday 8/5/2024, it seems extremely odd to me.

If you have hedges, this CAN happen to you!  There are over 30% of properties in Redondo Beach which are directly affected.  This is WHY it is imperative we act now to save our trees!

Enforcement of these dormant, outdated ordinances, will cause us to lose an estimated over 30% of our trees, our hedges, our privacy, and create a massive environmental impact.  One of the primary reasons the City was designated as Tree City USA was because of our trees and because of their lack of enforcement of these dormant law.  We need to get the word out there and change these laws.

Call to action!

• Watch and share this 1 hour podcast about local issues in Redondo Beach including the issues about our local trees, hedges, and street sweeping. Click here to watch.
• Talk with your neighbors.
• Help me advocate for change.  If anyone is an attorney, knows of an attorney or wants to help, email me at Andre@GreenRedondo.com.
• Print a flyer and pass it to your neighbors: https://greenredondo.com/flyer.pdf
• Write to our council members and mayor: https://greenredondo.com/city-contacts/   (jim.light@redondo.org, Nils.Nehrenheim@redondo.org, todd.loewenstein@redondo.org, paige.kaluderovic@redondo.org, zein.obagi@redondo.org, scott.behrendt@redondo.org, Mike.Witzansky@redondo.org)

Sample Letter

The City of Redondo Beach is officially recognized as a “Tree City USA”. They were recognized especially because of our status quo of abundance of trees. With the enforcement of this ordinance § 10-2.1524, this will force Redondo Beach residents to lose an estimated over 30% of their existing, established trees. We do not want to lose our trees. We do not want to lose our hedges. We do not want to lose our landscaping due to outdated ordinances relating to extreme, excessive tree trimming. These laws need to be updated, removing the word “hedges” from the height limit, current trees/hedges/shrubs/bushes need to be ‘grandfathered’ as existing, and the tree related ordinances need to be updated to reflect the current state of our union. We are for the environment. We are for privacy. We are for nature. And especially, we are for increased property values with the value trees, hedges, shrubs, and landscaping brings to our neighborhoods.

Tree protection and preservation is necessary for the health and welfare of the City. Trees growing within the City are an aesthetic resource which help define the character of the City, and provide many social, economic, and environmental benefits. Trees are worthy of protection in order to preserve the scenic beauty, prevent soil erosion, provide shade and wind protection, serve as a natural buffer between adjacent land uses, and counteract air pollution.

It is pertinent to the public peace, harmony, and welfare that such trees be protected from indiscriminate cutting or removal of mature trees. Trees have a positive economic effect on the City by enhancing property values and making the City a more attractive place in which to live, visit, and do business.