SANTA MONICA  -  Santa Monica has cut down 23 ficus trees and activists are calling it a shady move.

The downtown trees were removed Friday. The city manager's office said they were decaying and had weakened root systems.

The city plans to relocate another 31 ficus trees from downtown, contending the roots crack sidewalks and cost a lot of money in repairs and lawsuits.

The group Treesavers sued to block the tree removal last year but the case was thrown out. Treesavers won a stay but it was lifted by an appeal court on Wednesday.

The city has left another 120 ficus trees in place and plans to plant 139 new gingko trees.

(AP)