Forced Annexation Repeals - Government Committee

 CORRECTION: The MAYOR of Kinston, BJ Murphy did not speak at the meeting.

Mayor Murphy won his seat as the first Republican Mayor of Kinston in 100 yrs and he ran on a platform of being adamantly opposed to forced annexation.

It was the Mayor Pro Tem who spoke on behalf of the rest of the Kinston Council members.

Note to Mayor Murphy: Sincere apologies for making that error.

*************************

Two Bills to repeal the recent forced annexations by the cities of Kinston and Lexington were discussed and voted on in the House Government Committee of the Legislature.

There was great attendance by citizens belonging to communities fighting forced annexation. OLCAFA, Rowan Good Neighbors, CUAFA and others were there. Freedomworks representatives were also in attendance.
Big thanks to all for driving to Raleigh in spite of the snow and for the sacrifices you made to be there.

Rep. Larry Brown Chairs the House Government Committee.

House Bill 5 - Repeal Kinston Annexation
Introduced by Rep. Stephen LaRoque.

Rep LaRoque explained and defended the bill forcefully and eloquently today. He stood up for the people he represents who have no other voice to defend them on their behalf when it comes to forced annexation.
It was wonderful to be present and to hear a State Representative stand so strong for the people being harmed by forced annexation and against the arrogant entitlement attitude that the city officials and their lobbyists and Legislative advocates have come to have over the years.

The arrogance of the cities was apparent in the questions that their advocates asked and the statements that were made in opposition to the Bills.
Rep Alma Adams was more concerned about whether the Kinston City Council had approved the repeal than whether the citizens harmed by the forced annexation were being represented or were being helped by the repeal.

Rep. Leubke took the several opportunities he was given to address concerns about the Bill to remind the Committee that the Annexation Study Commission that he co-chaired had recommended House Bill 524 to "fix" the annexation laws. If you recall, H524 was the Annexation Study Committee Bill that included nearly ALL of the League of Municipalities recommendations, would have created MORE financial harm for the victims of forced annexation, and was soundly rejected by the citizens asking for an end to forced annexation.
Let it go Rep. Leubke, let it go. Stop trying to resurrect a very bad Bill that deserved to die.

The new talking point from the League of Municipalities (NCLM) appears to be to accuse the State Legislature of MEDDLING in the affairs of the city governments.
Wow!!
Do the city advocates really believe that the State Legislature has no right to regulate the affairs of the cities?
Have they forgotten that the NC Consitution defines cities as "creatures of the State" and it is not the other way around?

Several of the Representatives on the Committee who were clearly acting as mouthpieces for the City Lobbyists voiced concern that the State was meddling. This accusation was, in my opinion the most egregious example of the arrogance and out of control sense of self importance that has become far too commonplace from the city officials and their chief lobbying organization, the League of Municipalities.

The Mayor PRO-TEM of Kinston was allowed to address the Committee and he spent most of his time opposing the Bill as "meddling" on the part of the General Assembly. It takes one's breath away to hear this type of arrogance, but this is what the NCLM has accomplished over the last 50 years in the State of NC.

This type of arrogance from the NCLM lobbyists has always been on display over the years that I have been attending Committee meetings where property rights issues were being debated, but this new blatant display is incredible.
The NCLM appears to have grown used to waltzing into the General Assembly and saying "jump" to the Legislators and having the Legislators respond with "How High?".
It is a whole new ballgame this Legislative Session and it is refreshing. 

To witness Rep. LaRoque brush the arrogance aside and stand strong in knowing he is doing the right thing for the people of his District and of North Carolina was also a breath of fresh air.
Thank you Rep. LaRoque.

HB 5 was approved and with the majority voting the Bill forward.

House Bill 37 - Lexington Annexation Repeal.
Introduced by Rep Rayne Brown 

Rep Rayne Brown was also absolutely eloquent in her statement to the Committee about repealing the forced annexation that Lexington imposed recently. You could really tell that she is an unshakable woman of principle who is stepping up to do what is right for the people in her District. Stepping up for those who have no one other than her speak for them and to defend them against the tyranny of forced annexation.
Thank you Rep Rayne Brown. 

When the Mayor Pro Tem of Kinston was speaking, his defense of the city against the State reversing the annexation, and calling the action of the Legislators "meddling", it brought to mind the way that the City Bunch have responded to the citizens who say that forced annexation is taxation without representation.

The city advocates response to that has been to tell the citizens that they DO have representation in the State Legislature. Now they are complaining that the State should not be standing up for the citizens who were forcibly annexed and are appealing to the Legislature.
As usual, the City Bunch want it all and they want it both ways.
The truth is they couldn't care less about good government. All they seem to care about is increasing the power and the money flowing to the cities.

The Representatives on the Committee who were entrenched in their decision to oppose these repeals and speak for the League of Municipalities kept the conversation going until they ran out the clock for the meeting and a vote could not be taken at that time on HB37.
The way Alma Adams eagerly (a little too eagerly) called out that the clock had run out, it almost seemed like that was a planned strategy.

But Chairman Larry Brown was not to be undone on getting that vote done today. He knew the House was going to have a recess from the Floor and he was able to reconvene the Government Committee a little later on to allow a vote on HB 37. Some of the members were unable to return and some who opposed the bill didn't bother to return. The Bill was approved and soundly voted forward.
Thank you Rep Larry Brown.

There is another Bill that has been introduced on behalf of the forced annexation victims of Rocky Mount.
House Bill 56, Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Collins.
HB56 has been sent to the Committee On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

Rep.'s Rayne Brown and Jeff Collins are both new Legislators.
Rep LaRoque made a comeback in the last election. He served in the GA before 2006.

Please take time to send a word of thanks and encouragement to the Legislators who made today possible.
Contact information for House Members

Moratorium Bill, Senate Committee Meeting

WRAL and News14 were filming the Senate Committee meeting on Tuesday as they discussed the Annexation Moratorium Bill. You can watch a half hour of the meeting here. Some of the audio requires your computer volume to be turned all the way up but most of it does not.



Senator Andrew Brock did a terrific job of explaining the Bill and answering questions from the Committee Members. He defended the people of NC and the need for the moratorium very well.

I took notes about the questions that some of the committee members asked.

Senator White asked why a moratorium was necessary and tried to defend the right of cities who have annexations in process to complete them. He also thought some cities should be exempt from the moratorium.

Senator Blake defended the cities right to complete the annexations in process and that each annexation in process should be looked at on a case by case basis. 

Senator Robinson stepped up for the cities by declaring that the cities have added the annexation tax revenue to their balance sheets and shouldn't be asked to forgo that revenue.
She also wanted to know if anyone had an accurate count of the cities who are in the process of a forced annexation. Legislative Staff answered that by stating that the NCLM kept them informed and would provide that number. Hmm...

Senator Jones wanted to know if there was any support from "other organizations" for the moratorium.
Every person in the room who belonged to an anti-forced annexation group stood up to be recognized.
Senator Jones did his best to ignore the people while he clarified that he was referring to the lobbying organizations for the Cities and the Counties.

Senator Kinnard began her comments by telling a story about communities that elected their own Mayor and then followed that by stating that there are now "donut holes" in municipalities.

Perhaps I was having trouble hearing everything she said, but I couldn't make much sense out of her comments other than the fact that she dutifully brought up the "donut hole" argument against changing the law.

Senators East, Tucker, and Goolsby had strong statements in support of the moratorium and against how things have been done in the past.

• The people need a real voice, 
• The people are paying and getting nothing for the money paid to cities, 
• The law has been abused and paper towns were approved as favors and now they are out of control and engaged in land grabs amongst themselves.

All good and true points.

Senator Pate and Senator Nesbitt were absent from the meeting.

Charlotte's lobbyist told us about the horrors of Virginia and the moratorium they passed years ago. 
Mayor Walser from Lexington got up and cried us a river about extending water and sewer to the County schools and that gave Lexington the right to forcibly annex.
It was noted during the meeting that Walser is a Republican who supports forced annexation.
Wow__I wonder how many more of those we need to watch out for.

There were some interesting aspects of the meeting from the perspective of how some things have changed since I began attending committee meetings for the annexation and eminent domain issues:

The city lobbyists and their faithful servants are not quite as arrogant as they have been in meetings as recent as last session. This last election has clearly knocked some of the wind out of their sails, but they are working hard to regain their influence in the General Assembly.

The defenders of the cities and the status quo are still repeating the same old tired push-back arguments against a moratorium or against putting an end to forced annexation as they have time and time again. And they STILL can't make their case with any decent backing. It's just so because the NCLM said it's so.

Paul Meyer, the NCLM lobbyist, did throw out a mild threat. He warned that passing a moratorium would "throw a wet blanket" on the current negotiations underway between our Legislators and the NCLM. (Throw that blanket, Legislators!)

Hmmm..... (again) Meyer stated that our Legislators are "negotiating" with NCLM lobbyists as to what the promised, but still not seen, annexation reform legislation will contain.

Yet we've been told that input from our side is not wanted or needed. We are just supposed to let the Legislators write the Bills because that is what they were elected to do.
Double Hmmmm.... when was the NCLM elected to help write the Bills?

Well, at least the League lobbyist told us that some of their concessions will be surprising.
(eyes rolling)
I can hardly wait. WHOOPPEE!

All I know, _and I believe I'm not alone in thinking this, _is if this Legislature fails to put an end to forced annexation this year, with everything in place that has raised the hopes of thousands and thousands of people across the State, I'm not sure what else the people would have to do to get it done.
Perhaps some further "house cleaning" would be in order? 

Nevertheless, "Thank you Andrew Brock for standing strong against the opposition to the moratorium and for the great answers you gave to their comments."

Annexation Bills in Committee

ACTION ALERT 

Annexation Bills are being discussed by Legislators in Committees this week! 

These Bills and the Legislators that submitted them on behalf of the people need a visible show of support.

If there is any way that you can make it to Raleigh and attend these committee meetings please consider your attendance as critical.

Senate Bill 27 (Involuntary Annexation Moratorium) ***** TODAY!!

Tuesday, February 8
State and Local Government Committee
Room 1124 - Legislative Building
12 noon

We also need to bring a show of support for every Bill that DE-annexes the victims of forced annexation.

House Bill 37 (Lexington Annexations Repealed)

Thursday, February 10th
House Committee on Government      (Rep Larry Brown is Chair)
Room 643 - Legislative Office Building
10:00 am

Thank you!!

ACTION ALERT FOR THE GRASSROOTS!

StopNCAnnexation received the following request from anti-forced annexation activists in Union County for support from activists across North Carolina:

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The Union County Board of Commissioners will be considering a resolution against forced annexation at their next meeting:

Tuesday,

Jan 18th 

7:00 P.M.

Union County Government Offices 

500 N. Main Street, Monroe, NC 28212.

TV and other media will be there to cover the meeting.

We intend on being there to offer our support for the resolution – bodies, signs, public comments, etc.

We are wondering if you know of anyone from neighboring counties/jurisdictions that might come to Monroe to offer their comments and support.

We could really use a show of unity against forced annexation in our fight against Marvin.

---

If you can possibly attend this meeting to support the efforts of the Commissioners to speak out against forced annexation and the local activists encouraging them, please consider being there!

More and more County Commissioners are speaking up against forced annexation We still need them to speak up to the State Legislature as the local government officials who administer State Law and represent ALL the citizens of every County. 

We cannot rest just yet and trust that the right thing will be done this year in Raleigh.

We must continue to speak up and hold the feet of the new Legislature to the fire. 

 

Many of the former obstacles to ending forced annexation in the General Assembly are GONE and we have many reasons to see light at the end of the tunnel in this decades long struggle to change the law in NC and end the abuse caused by the current laws. 

 There should be NO MORE EXCUSES!

Rep.'s Larry Brown, Nelson Dollar and Stephen LaRoque tell us they are working on legislation right now.
They need to hear from as many people as possible that the #1 item that needs to happen is to put an end to forced annexation by giving the people being considered for annexation a VOTE!!
All the other issues in the current annexation law pale to near insignificance against getting this one thing done.

Rep Larry Brown Larry.Brown@ncleg.net

Rep Nelson Dollar Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net

Rep Stephen LaRoque Stephen.LaRoque@ncleg.net
 

This is what is happening on the NC House side of the discussion.

The NC Senate members also need to be encouraged to pass legislation that ENDS the practice of forced annexation once and for all.

 

Simple, yet civil, message: 

Restore the VOTE to those to be annexed! 

Senate ProTem Phil Berger: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net  

Thank you for keeping up the fight!

WE CAN DO THIS!  

Catherine Heath

Director

StopNCAnnexation Coalition

The Battle Continues.... post election

This past election brought undeniable historic changes to the State Legislature. The Republican Party will now control both the Senate and the House for the first time in over one hundred years and that is quite an event in itself. Aside from that, this new majority has the potential to turn the tide in favor of ending forced annexation once and for all. The stage is set for good things that COULD happen with Annexation reform in 2011, but what we get remains to be seen.

This coming year in the Legislature truly is a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to see something actually get done about the forced annexation laws, but good change is NOT a given unless every person can do a little to speak up to these lawmakers encouraging them to do what is right by the people; Restore our Voice! 

It has taken nearly a decade of work and an alignment of other outside factors (indictments, arrests, resignations and the economy and the results of the Nov election) to have this opportunity.
Forces at work on both sides of the aisle, in favor of the status quo for the cities, are already hard at work to railroad legislation that won't change much. Adding your voice and support to pushing for what is right, instead of passing into law a very bad compromise, will be needed.

The message from the people has been so loud and clear that forced annexation was an issue that many of these new legislators ran their campaigns on. Please thank them for that!

Please consider sending a postcard to each of these new legislators to congratulate them on their success and to encourage them to address the annexation issue by restoring the voice of the people being considered for annexation. (I could not obtain their email addresses)Also ask them to support a Statewide Moratorium on FORCED annexation while they debate the issue further. There are a number of areas across the State that are battling in court and the clock is ticking for them. They can't wait for new laws.

The list below includes ALL the new Legislators; Democrats and Republicans.

Cities across the State have gone into panic mode and are making noises about forcibly annexing.

The League of Municipalities is kicking into damage control mode and plan to lobby for a resurrection of the bill they wrote for the Study Commission last year; H524!
Just say NO to the NCLM "20 Point Plan"!!  

Although it would be great to see the legislation that Senator Shaw submitted in 2009 brought back for consideration in both chambers, let's give this new majority a chance to settle in and show us what they will bring forward have for annexation reform legislation.

For now, let's stay true to the important talking points and make sure the legislators know what 'we the people' really want to see them do;

End Forced Annexation once and for all! 

•  Restore a meaningful voice in the decision when cities initiate an annexation
• Create meaningful oversight of city initiated annexations by the locally elected County Commissioners whom those being approached for annexation have voted for.
• Make it a requirement that the city that wants to annex must be providing urban services that are shown to be meaningful and needed in the area being annexed.

New Senators: Louis M. Pate, Jr. - Wayne (R) P.O. Box 945 Mount Olive, NC 28365 (919) 658-3637 Don Davis(D)* William Peter Rabon - Brunswick (R) 404 W. Brunswick Street Southport, NC 28461 (910) 457-5110 R.C. Soles(D)* former seat Thom Goolsby - New Hanover (R) 212 Walnut Street Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 763-3339 Brent Jackson - Sampson (R) 2905 Ernest Williams Road Autryville, NC 28318 (910) 567-2202 "A" - E. S. (Buck) Newton - Wilson (R) P.O. Box 2047 Wilson, NC 27894 A. B. Swindell(D)* Wesley Alan Meredith - Cumberland (R) 113 Great Oaks Drive Fayetteville, NC 28303 Margaret Highsmith Dickson(D)* Eric L. Mansfield - Cumberland (D) P.O. Box 35935 Fayetteville, NC 28303 Rick Gunn, Jr. - Alamance (R) P.O. Box 308 Burlington, NC 27216 (336) 229-6981 Tony Foriest(D)* Dr. Gladys A. Robinson - Guilford (D) P.O. Box 20627 Greensboro, NC 27420 (336) 812-9076 Tommy Tucker - Union (R) 1206 Rose Hill Drive Waxhaw, NC 28173 (704) 596-8200 Kathy Harrington - Gaston (R) 3324 Lincoln Lane Gastonia, NC 28056 (704) 460-2998 Warren T. Daniel - Burke (R) 309 West Union Street Morganton, NC 28655 (828) 439-8075 Dan Soucek - Watauga (R) 313 Williams Ridge Road Boone, NC 28607 (828) 963-7426 Steve Goss(D)* Ralph E. Hise, Jr. - Mitchell (R) P.O. Box 86 Spruce Pine, NC 28777 Joe Sam Queen(D)* **********************(possible recount) Jim Davis - Macon (R) (likely winner) 37 Georgia Road Franklin, NC 28734 (828) 369-2054 John Snow - Cherokee (D)* (incumbent) 105 Van Horn Street Murphy, NC 28906 (828) 837-5052 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- An "A" before the name indicates "friend of the issue" * Names in red are the incumbents who have been retired by the voters on November 2nd ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Legislators that need to hear encouragement from the grassroots: Phil Berger - Senate (R)  Phil.Berger@ncleg.net Andrew C. Brock (R)  Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net Paul Stam - House (R)  Paul.Stam@ncleg.net Thom Tillis - House (R)  Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net Ric Killian - House (R)  Ric.Killian@ncleg.net Nelson Dollar - House (R)  Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net

New Representatives: Norman W. Sanderson (Pamlico) (R) 269 Bennett Rd. #4, Arapahoe, NC 28510 252-249-3749 *Alice Graham Underhill(D) Jimmy Dixon (Duplin) (R) P. O. Box 222, Warsaw, NC 28398 910-590-1740 Bill Cook (Beaufort) (R) 75 Cape Fear Dr., Chocowinity, NC 27817 252-946-5876 "A" -Stephen A. LaRoque (Lenoir) (R) P. O. Box 1034, Kinston, NC 28503 252-523-7700 *R. Van Braxton(D) Phillip R. Shepard (Onslow) (R) 111 Vernon Shepard Lane, Jacksonville, NC 28540 910-389-6392 Susi H. Hamilton (New Hanover) (D) 206 Nun St., Wilmington, NC 28401 910-443-2830 "A" - Jeff Collins (Nash) (R) 1109 Culpepper Dr., Rocky Mount, NC 27803 252-443-1441 *Randy Stewart(D) "A" - Tom Murry (Wake) (R) P. O. Box 1054, Morrisville, NC 27560 919-886-4341 *Chris Heagarty(D) G. L. Pridgen (Robeson) (R) 1044 Mercer Mill Rd., Lumberton, NC 28358 910-608-3277 *Douglas Y. Yongue(D) Charles Graham (Robeson) (D) 479 Bee Gee Rd., Lumberton, NC 28358 910-739-3969 "A" - Glen Bradley (Franklin) (R) 144 Ridgewood Rd., Youngsville, NC 27596 919-374-2973 *John May(D) Michael (Mike) Stone (Lee) (R) 1123 Winterlocken Dr., Sanford, NC 27330 919-777-8419 *Jimmy L. Love, Sr.(D) Marcus Brandon, Jr. (Guilford) (D) 808 Glendale Dr., Greensboro, NC 27406 336-987-3357 John Faircloth (Guilford) (R) 2332 Faircloth Way, High Point, NC 27265 336-841-4137 Bert Jones (Rockingham) (U) 299 Fairfield Rd., Reidsville, NC 27320 336-342-6171 *Nelson Cole(D) Ken Goodman (Richmond) (D) 832 Williamsburg Dr., Rockingham, NC 28379 910-997-2712 D. Craig Horn (Union) (R) 5909 Bluebird Hill Lane, Weddington, NC 28104 704-844-9960 "A" - Harry Warren (Rowan) (R) 201 Kingsbridge Rd., Salisbury, NC 28144 704-603-8898 *Lorene Coates(D) "A" - Rayne Brown (Davidson) (R) 416 Lee Ave., Lexington, NC 27295 336-249-2608 *Hugh Holliman(D) Mark W. Hollo (Alexander) (R) 432 Westwood Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681 828-632-1728 Jonathan C. Jordan (Ashe) (R) P. O. Box 744, Jefferson, NC 28640 336-846-1657 *Cullie M. Tarleton(D) Rodney W. Moore (Mecklenburg) (D) 1914 Yaupon Rd., Charlotte, NC 28215 704-449-6201 Bill Brawley (Mecklenburg) (R) 13612 O’Toole Dr., Matthews, NC 28105 704-574-0894 John Torbett (Gaston) (R) 210 Blueridge Dr., Stanley, NC 28164 704-263-9282 Kelly E. Hastings (Gaston) (R) 405 Jane St., Cherryville, NC 28021 704-473-3468 Mike Hager (Rutherford) (R) 342 Walking Horse Trail, Rutherfordton, NC 28139 828-748-2378 Timothy D. (Tim) Moffitt (Buncombe) (R) 3182 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 828-651-8550 Chuck McGrady (Henderson) (R) 195 Fernbrook Way, Hendersonville, NC 28791 828-696-0672

After this weekend we will know who has been appointed to be Senate Pro Tem and Speaker of the House.

The 2011-2012 biennium of the North Carolina General Assembly will convene on January 26, 2011.

In courtesy to the families of the new legislators who would like to have a seat to watch their loved ones be sworn in, I am recommending that we DO NOT plan a trip to Raleigh for January 26. I do think we should plan to go as a large group early in the session, perhaps once we have some good legislation to support. Stay tuned!!

I attended a meeting last Tuesday with Kathy Hartkopf (Freedomworks), Doug Aitken and Tony Tetterton (FAC), and Daren Bakst to discuss the year ahead. The results of that meeting will be forthcoming as soon as more information is put together.

After taking a much needed break, I WILL be updating the website once again to help keep you updated on news in Raleigh and across the State. Thanks for your patience and a very BIG THANK YOU to ALL who sent a contribution recently. It will be needed in the upcoming year.

Please consider helping SNCA do what needs to be done in the upcoming year with a financial donation.

http://www.stopncannexation.com/Searchfiles/Contribute.htm

Thank you for all that you have done to move all of us toward success!

Catherine Heath

Director,
StopNCAnnexation Coalition

The Battle Continues

After the last several years of controversy regarding forced annexation and another "study" of the issue by the legislature, the official Legislative Study Commission produced an annexation reform bill that was horrible. House Bill 524 was truly a case where the "cure" was worse than the disease itself. Far too many legislators got behind this horrible bill (H524) and pushed it hard in spite of the fact that a MUCH better piece of legislation (S494/H645) that reflected the requests from the citizens was available to them.

The differences between S494 and H524 and how these bills evolved speaks volumes about a serious problem that the people are confronted with in the State Legislature; specifically;’ Who do the majority of Legislators feel they owe their loyalty to?’ Is it the people of this State or is it the special interests that have honed their "pay to play" skills over the decades?

Senate Bill 494 came about because one legislator, Senator Larry Shaw, (Dem, now retired), reached out to a grassroots organization, StopNCAnnexation, (formed nearly eight years ago to bring the voice of the people across the State together in the single goal of being heard in Raleigh), and asked for assistance in creating legislation that would truly address what the people have been trying for decades to have changed in the fifty year old version of annexation law. That often repeated request is for a restoration of the rights and voice of the people being affected by a local government body that they did not elect.

S494 was the result of that request for assistance in changes to the law. 

In contrast, H524 was created within a process that the legislature has used whenever they have a controversial issue that the people pressure them to address, a process which they have used to "handle" the forced annexation outcry several times in the past. The Legislative Leadership forms a committee to "study" the issue. By now, and at least three studies later, the results are predictable; the same arguments and requests are presented by both sides of the controversy and the entrenched special interests (the NC League of Municipalities) exerts its backroom influence. Very little of what the people have asked for over and over survives the study to become part of the resulting legislation that is voted on. The people are left with the appearance of action while their voice and wishes are ignored.

The discussion in the Legislature about forced annexation is shut down for years to come.

Yet our Legislators declared H524 a "compromise" victory. How could it be a compromise or a victory for the people when everything the people asked for once again was discarded and everything that the NCLM suggested was adopted? The only thing that qualifies H524 as a compromise was that it was clearly produced by a compromise of principle and representative government. The inclusion of an unwinnable sham of a referendum in H524 may have been unprecedented, but does not qualify the bill as acceptable to the people or to the principles of good representative government.

After all your trips to Raleigh to attend the Study Commission meetings and legislative sessions, all the letters, emails and phone calls to the legislators, with no resulting legislation being passed into law last session, you might be feeling like the people have once again failed in the effort to change the annexation laws, but that is not the case.

The people scored a major victory in this battle, although not the final victory of having the voice of the people restored. With the decades of cultivated influence and army of lobbyists wielded by the NCLM and affiliates, it was a victory for the people that H524 did NOT become law! The discussion on changing the annexation laws has not been shut down by bad legislation and if the people have the will to continue it, we have a good chance to finally prevail. Defeating the passage of H524 was a win for the people!

Going forward, there is so much opportunity now in place to make real change happen and I hope that you recognize it.

We have an upcoming election that can have a major impact on changing the annexation laws and it is up to each of us to continue to increase the pressure on those running for State office to take a stand on this issue. All the calls, letters and emails from everyone in the effort to restore the voice of the people have had an effect on election campaigns across NC. Candidates are declaring their position against forced annexation from the coast to the mountains, but more need to take a stand. Only you can make that happen with the candidates running to represent you. Don't let this opportunity pass.

The NCLM has had decades to groom former city officials to become "friendly" legislators to their ongoing agenda of increasing the power and subsidies to city governments. It's time to 'clean house' in the General Assembly and County Commissions and remove as many of those officials who feel that the wishes of the city lobbyists are more important than the voices of the people of this State they were elected to represent.

Ask those running to take a stand against forced annexation. Don't let them wiggle out of taking a real stand by saying they "support reform" of the annexation laws. Even the Director of the NCLM has said he "supports reform" of the laws. Pin your candidate down to take a stand against forced annexation and committing to put an end to the practice once and for all.

Once the people of NC have replaced the “Lackey's of the League” with those who will commit to representing their constituents faithfully in the State Legislature, the people should look forward to going back to the General Assembly with our request for legislation that will end forced annexation once and for all next year.

   Catherine Heath

StopNCAnnexation Coalition

The NCLM fake grassroots network

The citizens of NC who have come together over the last eight years to raise their voices to the State Legislature about ending forced annexation have had the city lobbyists, the NC League of Municipalities (NCLM) on the run and this continues.

In response to the success of the grassroots citizens, the NCLM  has created what they are calling the LINC network; which stands for Legislative Information Network of Communities.

The NCLM has been using this tool to fight the citizens efforts to change the annexation laws to end forced annexation. They have recruited city residents go along with city officials to visit legislators in Raleigh for the purpose of having these citizens tell legislators that being annexed into the city was the greatest thing to ever happen to them.

Well, anyone who pays attention to city politics knows that there are always people, who I would describe as city council "groupies", who would do anything to gain brownie points with elected officials, so I'm sure the NCLM has been able to find some of these types who would fall all over themselves to do this. I doubt they can find very many people who have been FORCIBLY annexed that are happy about it who would go. 

The NCLM is in gear for the 2010 Short Legislative Session and have sent out their first "LINC" email announcing a weekly conference call to brief municipal LINC members on legislative activity that they need to respond to. Opposing the citizens calling for an end to forced annexation is a priority item on their agenda.

The NCLM has also pulled a new tactic this year in their ongoing attempts to run away from the citizens coming to Raleigh to ask for an end to forced annexation. They changed the date that they had set for their yearly 'Town Hall Day' to June 16th after months of advertising it for June 2nd. 
StopNCAnnexation obtained permits for the Bicentennial Mall and the Halifax Mall for June 2nd and started advertising this year's rally early in the year.

StopNCAnnexation began holding a Citizens Rally in Raleigh on the NCLM's Town Hall Day starting in 2005, and the NCLM has been trying to avoid the citizens on that day ever since.  The Bicentennial Mall is the location that the citizen rally has usually been held. This year the NCLM has also blocked anyone from using the Bicentennial Mall on June 16th.

I don't think this latest move by the NCLM should stop the citizens from showing up at the Legislature on June 16th. No one has ever needed a permit to visit the legislative buildings and walk the halls to meet with legislators. Let's not let the NCLM have June 16th all to themselves in Raleigh this year.

If you were planning to attend the Rally on June 2nd, change that date on your calender to June 16th, and I'll see you there!

Cathy