March 16 , 2004

Don’t waste money

By ALFRED CARLSON

I was appalled to read the recent article reporting that the county Board of Supervisors is going to continue its lawsuit and try to get the state Supreme Court to overrule the recent appellate court decision on local zoning for logging.How can the board claim to have a budget shortfall and be cutting service to the most needy citizens of our county, then spend a half-million dollars on a frivolous lawsuit to take local landowners' property rights away?

If board members feel so strongly about the logging issue, they should set up an assessment district to have a tax like the Peninsula Open Space District did and buy the development or logging rights from the property owners.

The board members don't seem to have an understanding of private property rights. Why don't they pass an ordinance that does not allow homeowners to prune and thin their rose bushes? This is a good horticulture practice, just as selective cutting and thinning trees is a good logging practice that makes for a healthier forest and less fire danger.

The board seems to have a vendetta against Big Creek Lumber, which is a major, environmentally responsive local employer. It has already spent a million dollars trying to protect their logging rights. From my observation, Big Creek does a much better job managing its forests than the local parks and open space districts do. Supervisors need to be held accountable for their spending when they are cutting much-needed public services and laying off county employees.

More on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisor's decision to appeal the Sixth Appellate Court decision:

Link to a March 16, 2004 Santa Cruz Sentinel editorial

More on the recent Sixth District Court of Appeals decision:

Link to the official Sixth Appellate Court Summary of Conclusions

Link to complete Sixth Appellate Court decision

Link to a February 19, 2004 Santa Cruz Sentinel editorial

Link to a February 20, 2004 CCFA editorial

Other recent attempts to disenfranchise landowners:

Link to the coho recovery plan (see pages 7-101 through 7-113)

Link to recent Water Quality Control Board regulations