He cleared the tree's so women couldn't be pulled in there and assaulted and so drug users couldn't hide in there using drugs.  By thinning tree's police could drive by and monitor the park.   Liberals fought him over this. Even gardeners vowed to boycott .  Liberals and tree hugger's felt a few trees and personal freedom mattered a hundred times more than public safety.  Had he sent the police in liberals would have protested that too.