Annexation reform delayed too long
In this session of the North Carolina General Assembly it is time the freedoms, protections and rights of the citizenry of North Carolina are again honored. It is time the General Assembly freed the citizens of North Carolina and returned the control of their lives back to them.
North Carolinians have been at the mercy and destructive hand of the municipalities in North Carolina for far too long. The current annexation statutes have been a destructive force within North Carolina. Many lives and families have been destroyed by the unscrupulous municipalities within North Carolina.
It is time the members of the General Assembly intervene on behalf of the citizens that have elected them to office. It is the real people of North Carolina that put them into office with each election. The non-voting municipalities cannot send them to Raleigh; only the people can.
It is about time that they as a group respected the people of North Carolina and return control of their lives back to them. It is time they realized that they are not doing the peopleís business when they allow the people to be degraded, demoralized and victimized as is happening today with the current annexation statutes.
If they are unwilling to tackle the destructive annexation statutes during this session, then they should at least place a moratorium on all annexations until the General Assembly repeals it as part of a new annexation reform bill that will return the peopleís freedoms, protections and rights to them.
I ask each North Carolinian to contact their elected representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly and request that they return the peopleís freedoms, protections and rights to them with the enactment of a new annexation statute.
It is time you eliminate the abuse of the citizens of North Carolina by eliminating the use of involuntary annexation.
ó Ray Shamlin
Rocky Mount
Critics donít know the real Treme
This is in response to the letters complaining about Salisbury City Manager David Treme:
This is my brother and friend!
God has given him the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge of the fear of the lord (Isaiah 11-2).
He does not judge the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.
He does pray before making any decision. He prays for you and me. He picks me up to go to church.
He is a person who gives to the needy. He pays taxes and is a very talented person. When he sees a vision that the lord has given him, he goes for it and his council members see this.
He did not ask for a raise; in fact, he turned down last yearís raise!
Thanks, David, for a job well done! You deserve a raise!
ó Jo Ann Keller
Salisbury