Several days ago, NBCUniversal heavily trimmed ficus trees on a nearby street where striking writers and actors have been protesting. As a result of this trimming, the City of Los Angeles called for an investigation into the studio regarding its potentially gross ignorance of city tree-related ordinances.

On Monday, L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia posted a viral tweet revealing how the studio stripped the trees to nothing, removing the shade available to strikers. Since the trees legally belong to the city itself, Mejia explains that NBCUniversal will be investigated for possibly violating city code. According to said laws, all city trees are “the responsibility of the StreetsLA Investigation and Enforcement Division” and Urban Forestry Division, and any violators are at risk of receiving “code enforcement violations.”

Our Office is investigating the tree trimming that occurred outside Universal Studios where workers, writers, and actors are exercising their right to picket.

The trimmed trees are LA City managed street trees.

(Before and after photos below) pic.twitter.com/xczw0bTdh9

— LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia (@lacontroller) July 19, 2023

When Deadline approached NBCUniversal for a comment regarding the situation, a Universal spokesperson denied that the tree trimming was intended to cause serious issues for strikers. They claimed that these trees are trimmed every summer “in partnership with licensed arborists…to ensure that the canopies are light ahead of the high wind season.” The spokesperson also added the studio is willing and open to communication with the labor leaders to work out a proper deal with the unions.  “We support the WGA and SAG’s right to demonstrate, and are working to provide some shade coverage,” the spokesperson claimed.

However, after an in-depth investigation with the Enforcement and Urban Forestry Division, Mejia revealed that NBCUniversal had never received tree-trimming permits for the last three years. In fact, Majia notes that “the City did not issue any tree trimming permits for the latest tree trimmings.” Both divisions will convene to determine if this action will warrant “the issuance of an administrative citation or hearing,” the former of which will start at a fee of $250.

UPDATE:

With cooperation from the Bureau of Street Services, we have found that no tree trimming permits have been issued over the last three years for this location outside Universal Studios.

Also, the City did not issue any tree trimming permits for the latest tree trimmings. https://t.co/8ge7LElRao pic.twitter.com/JChoiNvHhW

— LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia (@lacontroller) July 19, 2023

NBCUniversal has not commented on this revelation, but it has offered tents and coverings for strikers after the latter spoke out against the trimming.