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Sunday, February 22, 2009
Changes to NC Annexation Laws
The N&O features a fairly insignificant article -- with a significant sidebar -- today on the howling of Republicans and of property-rights-over-all Constitutionalists that reform is needed for NC's laws allowing cities to involuntarily annex adjacent and overtaken neighborhoods.Here's the money (from the sidebar):
THE PATHS THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT TAKE
The legislature has a menu of options if members decide to address the controversies over involuntary annexation.
MORATORIUM: Bills have already been filed to delay annexation in specific counties. A statewide moratorium cleared the House but died in the Senate last year.
REFERENDUM: Supporters of this option say that people have a right to determine their own fate and therefore should be allowed to vote on whether they are annexed into a city or town.
REVISE ANNEXATION PROCEDURES: This option has the most support in the legislature. The idea is to change the law to require cities and towns to give property owners more time and ways to react to an annexation proposal. Options include giving property owners more time to challenge an annexation and giving a commission the power to review annexations.
If I were an NC city administrator, and considering the lack of steel currently in the General Assembly, I think I could live with the last option (which, incidentally, "has the most support in the legislature"). But I'd also expect that moratorium while Option 3 gets written as legislation. Wouldn't you?
It would be a bad move to strangle North Carolina's vibrant little (and big) cities. But that's where this anti-annexation movement will arrive eventually. (And by the way, I idolize Thomas Jefferson a good deal MORE, I wager, than the people quoting him right now.)
Labels: North Carolina annexation laws, North Carolina legislature, Thomas Jefferson
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Getting the N.C. House On-Camera
Watauga County's own Cullie Tarleton has been appointed to lead a committee looking into the feasibility of putting all sessions of the N.C. House on TV.
Tarleton is a valuable resource. He's a former senior vice president and general manager for WBTV, WBT Radio and WCCB TV and a former member of the board of directors for the National Association of Broadcasters.
Now, about the N.C. Senate...
Tarleton is a valuable resource. He's a former senior vice president and general manager for WBTV, WBT Radio and WCCB TV and a former member of the board of directors for the National Association of Broadcasters.
Now, about the N.C. Senate...
Labels: Cullie Tarleton, North Carolina legislature
Friday, June 27, 2008
Closed Government Is Bad, No Matter Who's Slamming the Door
Open government in Raleigh? Not so much. Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat, barred an N&O reporter from a legislative meeting of budget negotiators from the NC Senate & House with Gov. Easley's chief budget advisor and others.
Rand's explanation for barring the reporter was weak. Lame. An embarrassment.
It's buffalo dust like this that gives the Democratic majority in Raleigh a bad reputation. Deservedly so.
Rand's explanation for barring the reporter was weak. Lame. An embarrassment.
It's buffalo dust like this that gives the Democratic majority in Raleigh a bad reputation. Deservedly so.
Labels: North Carolina budget, North Carolina legislature, Tony Rand
