At midnight of June 30th, the Annexation Reform Act will become the law of North Carolina.
This represents a HUGE change to a very bad law that was a blemish on the State of North Carolina, whose motto has been "First in Freedom". This is a change of HISTORIC significance.
In my last post, I explained the choices that were before Governor Purdue as H845 sat on her desk. I'm puzzled by the choice that she made.
She could have vetoed this legislation, but she did not. For that we all breath a sigh of relief.
Instead she chose to leave the bill sit untouched for the ten days required by the NC Constitution for the legislation to go into effect without her signature.
The Governor could have signed H845. Instead she chose a 'hands off' approach. WHY? This decision does not show support by her for this legislation. I actually thought there was a chance that she might stand with the people and sign the bill, given the overwhelming bi-partisan support that the legislation has.
Thousands of people and nearly two dozen citizens groups opposed to the practice of forced annexation and the UNC Center for Civil Rights supported the passage of the changes H845 would bring to the annexation laws. This legislation passed the House and the Senate with a STRONG bi-partisan vote. In light of all of the support the legislation had among the people and the overwhelming majority of the Legislature, it is hard to understand why Governor Purdue chose NOT to show genuine support for the bill.
We can thank the Legislators for passing the Annexation Reform Act of 2011.
The No2wilma group has great pages set up to help you do just that:
https://sites.google.com/site/no2wilma2/email-campaign
https://sites.google.com/site/no2wilma2/sen-thankyou
Thanks to No2Wilma for putting this together!
NOW we can truly call annexation proposals that are initiated by a municipality "city initiated" annexation.
The NCLM has been trying for years to spin FORCED annexation as 'city initiated'; now they can truthfully call it that to their hearts content.
I want to thank each and every person who wrote a letter, called or emailed a legislator over the years. I thank every local community that stood up and fought a forced annexation win or lose, and contributed to the effort at the Legislature. And every person who made it a point to ask the candidates campaigning to represent them the question of where they stood on ending forced annexation. YOU all made where we are today a reality!! THANK YOU!!
Catherine Heath
StopNCAnnexation Coalition (the coalition is YOU!)
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3 years ago
Last fall Gov. Perdue was in Asheville and I "happened" to be in the same place at the same time, AND I had the opportunity to ask her her opinion of forced annexation. She stated that she thought the government should do what the people want, which surprised me.
ReplyDeleteI would say that the governor's non-action by lack of signature as well as the lack of veto will turn around and work against her in the future.
For those who are FOR forced annexation, the lack of veto shows lack of courage to stand with the political powers that be.
For those who are AGAINST forced annexation, the lack of signature shows lack of courage to stand with the people.
BUT -- thanks to all who have worked hard for this day to come to pass! WE have achieved a tremendous victory.
Betty Jackson
StopWoodfin.org