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Protester arrested after chaining to City Hall tree: “Aaron Buchbinder, 25, chained himself to the so-called Tree of Hope at around 11 a.m., wrapping the bicycle chain around the trunk and locking himself to it with the handcuffs, said Eileen Hirst, a spokeswoman with the Sheriff's Department.

He also poured glue into the handcuff lock, forcing deputies to cut him free from the bindings before they could detain him. He was chained to the tree for about an hour.

Buchbinder was arrested on suspicion of disruption of public business, Hirst said.

The Tree of Hope - a 20-foot pine tree covered with hundreds of origami cranes - was not harmed in the incident.

Buchbinder was criticizing Mayor Gavin Newsom's recent budget cuts, especially cuts to the public health department and services for low-income residents, said Elihu Hernandez, who said he and Buchbinder are members of the "Citizens Committee to Save Tiny Tim."”