BERKELEY, Calif. -- Tensions soared Tuesday at a controversial grove on University of California, Berkeley campus where at least four protest supporters have been arrested, a massive scaffolding has been erected and the campus police chief has taken to a giant crane in an attempt at one last effort to get the four tree-sitters to climb down. A crowd of about two dozen spectators – some banging drums and buckets -- gathered across the street from the grove and were guarded by a large police contingent. Meanwhile, workers wearing white protective clothing slowly assembled scaffolding up the side of the redwood. UC campus police Victoria Harrison and other officers on bucket ontop of cranes were attempting to negotiate, but it appeared the last stand had begun. UC spokesman Dan Mogulof had warned that officials were "preparing for a fairly quick, safe and certain conclusion" to a 21-month-long standoff with the tree-sitters . But he had declined to specify exactly what steps the university would take.
Mogulof said, "We'll remove them safely if we have to" but the university "won't yank them down." An agreement that called for the tree-sitters to receive food, water and other support from backers on the ground expired at 9 a.m. today and Mogulof said "the supplies will stop."
However, he said he believes the tree-sitters "have food and water stock-piled."
Mogulof said the university doesn't have any current plans to re-open negotiations with the tree-sitters but said "our phone lines are open."
However, Mogulof said the tree-sitters' "presence has no purpose" because the university has cut down all but two of the 42 trees it wants to remove from the site near the stadium in preparation for construction work. He said two redwood trees at the site will be cut down soon, including the tree occupied by the tree-sitters. Ayr, also known as Erik Eisenberg, the head of the ground support team for the tree-sitters, said the tree-sitters will come down voluntarily if the university agrees to create a permanent committee that would have oversight of the university's land use decisions and policies and if it donated $6 million.
Ayr said the proposal calls for $3 million to be donated for land conservation for a non-profit group and $3 million to be donated to the Intertribal Friendship House.
Mogulof accused the tree-sitters of "making a new set of demands" at the last minute and of "moving the goal posts at this late date." Mogulof said university officials signed a proposed agreement with the tree-sitters on Sunday but the tree-sitters rejected it. He said the tree-sitters are now asking for amnesty but the university is unwilling to grant it. Ayr said the tree-sitters have asked for amnesty but "it's not a make or break proposal" that would kill a possible agreement. Huckleberry, one of the four remaining tree-sitters, said in a phone interview from his perch about 90 feet above the ground that, "We're hopeful the university will come back to the negotiating table in good faith." As workers on bulldozers noisily went about their jobs, Huckleberry alleged the university "didn't respect the wishes of the community" in approving the project in December 2006 and accused university officials of making "misleading statements" about it. Asked how much food and water the tree-sitters have, Huckleberry said, "We have fresh air and sunshine to sustain us." Pressed to estimate how much longer the tree-sitters can remain in the tree without fresh supplies, he said, "It shouldn't be a problem if the university negotiates in good faith." Asked why he thinks negotiations would be productive at this point, following lengthy legal battles, Huckleberry said, "We can always hope."
The university began tearing down trees Friday morning, shortly after the state Court of Appeal on Thursday rejected a request by project opponents to maintain an injunction against the project. University officials have released various cost estimates for the 158,000-square-foot sports training facility. Mogulof said the most recent estimate is that it will cost about $125 million and take about two-and-a-half years to be completed.
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