Santa Cruz Logging Restrictions Upheld

The right of local officials to restrict commercial logging was upheld in a divided ruling by the State Supreme court.
Local city offical Mardi Wormhoudt, celebrated the ruling. "It's a victory for local control over land-use", she said.
Both sides of the timber debate expected that this ruling would shape the future debate over local control of logging and commercial land rights. California has restricted logging rights on a state-wide basis since the 1970's, but with federal rights for forest timber ceded to commercial control in many instances under the Bush administration, there was increased concern over local rights before the ruling.
The ruling did accept that local governments do not have the right to determine how logging is carried out, but that local ordinances can determine where this logging can take place.