On Wednesday, Sonoma County Regional Parks staff were planning to start cutting down trees along the Joe Rodota Trail, the popular 8.5 mile paved pedestrian and bicycle trail stretching from Sebastopol to Santa Rosa. But before chainsaws were fired up, advocates started handcuffing themselves to the trees.
“I think I’ve been here for an hour and a half; I’m not moving,” said Michael Titone, his left arm dangling, his wrist handcuffed to a tree branch.
For the past few years, Sonoma County has been making moves to curb the presence of unhoused people on the Joe Rodota trail, like placing boulders where people sleep and issuing tickets to encampment residents. And now that includes cutting down trees on the trail between Dutton Avenue and Roberts Road…