Save Trees and the California State Capitol Park

Target: California State Governor and Legislature

The California Legislature’s Capitol Annex Project will dramatically reshape the Historic State Capitol and surrounding Capitol Park.  This $775 million project will 1) demolish and replace the existing Capitol Annex Building, 2) excavate the West Plaza of the Capitol to build an underground visitor center; and 3) excavate and build a 200-space underground parking garage on the south lawn of the Capitol Building exclusively for Legislators and high-ranking Executive officials. Legislators are set to begin this expensive, destructive Project as California faces a pandemic budget crisis of historic proportion.  

The trees of California State Capitol Park are unique specimens from around the world.  Many were planted over 150 years ago and tower over 100 feet high, providing beauty, shade and respite for local residents, workers, and visitors alike. This Project will remove up to 100 of these lovely and historic giants.  The Project will destroy the broad vista of the West Plaza – long the gathering place for Californians who petition their government.  The Project will rip out trees to make a private underground parking garage for state officials over a two block area, requiring the removal of many trees with no way to plant similar trees.  The Project will destroy the historic Capitol Annex instead of updating it at a substantially lower cost.  What’s worse is this Project was planned with minimal public input or communication.  Documents have been withheld from the public and watchdog groups.

PLEASE JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN:   

• Sign this petition online
• Share this petition on social media and with your friends
• Tell the Legislature to stop this Project as it is currently planned.  We don’t want our Historic State Capitol and Capitol Park defaced for an expanded Annex Building and private parking for legislators, and we don't want any trees removed for this project  

CONTACT YOUR STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND SENATOR - TELL THEM YOU DON'T WANT CAPITOL PARK DESTROYED AND THAT YOU WANT THE STATE TO:

1)      Start a new design process to include wide public input, and meet environmental goals – especially saving Historic Capitol Park --- its gathering places and trees.

2)      Say no to the underground parking garage and the destruction of the West Plaza and its landscape.

3)      Develop a plan to modernize the Historic Capitol Annex, thus saving money and trees.

Find your legislators here: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/