photo credit: Anna Zou
Michael Titone with the group Sonoma County Acts of Kindness tries to prevent
Sonoma County Regional Parks staff from cutting down trees on the Joe
Rodota Trail on July 16, 2025.

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. 

“ They're ripping out trees that provide shade for people, for all people. This is a public trail and they're trying to make it more uncomfortable for unhoused people to exist."

That’s Lu Lu Gamma Ray, who was among the handcuffed volunteers with Sonoma County Acts of Kindness, a local organization advocating for and providing services to unhoused people across the county. 

Another volunteer named Savannah said she thinks the way Sonoma County is allocating resources is unfair.

“Do they not have other things to do than helping cut down some shade along our beautiful trail?" she asked.

Bert Whitaker, the director of Sonoma County Regional Parks, told KRCB News the tree-cutting plan is part of ongoing vegetation management of non-native trees, as well as what he calls “safety enhancements.” 

That stretch of trail has "recently become a focal point for illegal activities," Whitaker said. "Individuals have been using the trees to put up structures and it's really become unsafe for the public to use the trail in that area.” 

Sonoma County Acts of Kindness volunteers say they will continue to advocate against tree cutting on the trail.