Video: 400 trees to be cut in LA to make room for shuttle

>>> in los angeles , there's growing dismay tonight over what the city is doing to make way for the arrival of the retired space shuttle endeavor . they are cutting down 400 trees. many of them mature beautiful trees in a city that needs them. our report tonight from nbc's mike taibbi .

>> reporter: they're cutting down some 400 trees, including many mature pines and magnolias reduced to stumps, so the five story high, 78- foot wide endeavor can move down the streets. some are not amused.

>> you're sitting at a stoplight, that little bit of shade is gone. it is a concrete jungle . it's more like new york than los angeles .

>> that's stupid. replant them, why cut them down?

>> reporter: once the endeavor is in place, they'll plant twice as many trees as will have been cut down. but removing the trees on the route selected was the only option. dismantling endeavor or airlifting it were deemed impossible. so good-bye trees. the 12 mile trip from l.a.x. to the science center next month was supposed to be a two-day parade along this route, with an overnight slumber party included. while that still may be true, it's not all that's true.

>> reporter: to get it to its resting place on the streets broad enough to accommodate it, power lines will be raised, some streetlights will be removed and hundreds of trees will bite the dust.

>> not only do we get to participate in history, we get our trees replaced two for one. so we're very happy here in the city.

>> reporter: there are plenty of people who think it's worth it.

>> i'm really excited to see the endeavor, it's a once in a lifetime chance, i'm glad to see it happen.

>> reporter: but this is california, where anything involving trees is big news. from the plight of the giant redwoods a century ago, to the old tree downed by age and weather in old hollywood this morning. to the revelation that moving this modern national treasure to l.a. will cost some urban greenery that goes back generations. mike taibbi , nbc news, los

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/48902722/

obama budget woolly mammoth belize resorts nikki minaj grammy performance shel silverstein niki minaj grammy performance grammys 2012