The Oakland City Council has fined Nigerian medical doctor Matthew Bernard and his wife, Lynn Warner, nearly $1 million for allegedly removing 38 protected trees surrounding their property on Claremont Avenue.
The penalty was issued after a public hearing held on Tuesday, May 5, during which more than 20 residents called on city officials to strictly enforce Oakland’s tree preservation laws.
Community members argued that the trees were important for wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, and public health in the area.
According to reports, Bernard and Warner had defended the tree removal, stating that the decision was made following advice from an arborist.
Addressing the hearing, Bernard explained that the trees, which were cut down nearly four years ago, were “dead, dying, leaning,” or otherwise considered dangerous. Despite the explanation, city authorities rejected the justification and imposed a total fine of $915,135.40 on the couple.
The council also placed a claim against the property, a measure that could restrict the owners from selling or developing the land until the fine is fully paid.
Supporting the city’s action, community tree specialist Erys Gagnez said mature trees of that scale could not easily be replaced.
“Trees of that size are not commercially available for replacement. Even with replanting, it will take decades, even centuries, to restore the ecological and protective functions that were lost,” Gagnez said.
She added that the size of the penalty reflected the environmental damage caused by the removal of the trees.
