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Poll Question: Should the city of Salisbury pursue annexation of residential subdivisions along N.C. 150?This week’s poll question is: Should the city of Salisbury pursue annexation of residential subdivisions along N.C. 150? Vote in the poll to the right and make sure to post your comments below. We will publish the most interesting in the paper next week. *note: voting is closed Discuss this article:42 Responses to “Poll Question: Should the city of Salisbury pursue annexation of residential subdivisions along N.C. 150?” Got something to say? You must be logged in to post a comment. |
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NC is one of 6 remaining states in this country where forced annexation has not been struck down, or removed by legislative act. In Rowan County, our county government pays for the extension of utility lines, gifts it to the City-run utility, then Salisbury uses the existence of those utilities to justify forced annexation. The forces in Raleigh bill this as a city’s means of ‘providing services to its suburbs’, when everyone in fact knows it’s about access to more tax revenues, and not about services at all. The Vision 2020 maps show Secondary Growth Areas that will more than triple Salisbury’s land mass by 2020, if forced annexation is not stopped. This should be THE 2008 election issue for local State offices. How can city leaders look at themselves in the mirror?
Salisbury’s Country Club golf course is emerald green thanks to practically free water, courtesy of the City. The folks out on Highway 150 will soon be welcomed to the historic city of white picket fences and neatly manicured yards. Just don’t step over any of those fences, or you’ll find 2 inches of astro-turf covering 8 feet of SLUDGE. Welcome to Salisbury.
Involuntary Annexation is a form of Taxation without representation..The cities of this state have The League of Munnicipalites to lobby for them to keep the annexation laws in their favor.The Legislature needs to hear from the People that this type of annexation affect, people on fixed incomes that will have their taxes doubled. As for the city services if they were so great everone would want to live in the city.However If I wanted to live in the city I would have bought property in the city limits.I prefer to live in the county pay for my own Garbage Service,pay my taxes to the local Fire Dept. iand I have the Sheriffs Dept., and the N.C. Highway Patrol for Law Enforcement. Thanks to the County Commissioners for oppozing this.It is time for the Legislature to change the Annexation Laws. At least give the people in the area getting annexed a Vote..If the people had a vote I feel sure that most would not vote to double their property taxes.
For the people who believe it is just, fair, or just “okay” to used forced anexation to make land owners who didn’t get to vote to start paying city taxes, I wonder where you lost your soul, or your sense of reality? If you really believe that way, then you have convinced yourselves that you can pick up a turd by the “clean” end.
I am shocked that there are only 4 posts on here at this time (Saturday morning) . People, we need to get mobilized and fight this latest attempt to annex our properties and thus have life as we know it out 150. changed forever. Have you noticed the increased traffic at Sherrills Ford and 150? Have you looked over at the activity in and out of the parking lot of that horrid Dollar General Store (which I hope you are all boycotting)??? Start today by thinking about what we can do legally as a group as well as individuals. I am starting by making my last trip ever to Vogue Cleaners to pick up dry cleaning. Vote with your checkbook and let these council members know you can take away business from them. Ditto re: that ugly bank on Jake and the “realtor.” Let’s get together this coming week and make plans to get legal counsel and fight this. Property owners not affected by the last attempt at annexation: it is time to pony up financially. Remember that our good neighbors paid for counsel and won last time. Now it is our turn to fight and oay as well - Hidden Hut Taxpayer
It looks like I’m taking on a minority opinion here. Perhaps there will come a time when the county provides such a level of services that Salisbury cannot justify annexation. But at present, Salisbury takes the lead in historic preservation, while the county languishes over petty concerns like property rights and allows the destruction of our sacred past with stupid ideas like the race track. Salisbury practices what it preaches in race relations and multiculturalism, while county leaders pat themselves on the back for sticking letters on a building with a promise that does not comport with their intolerant actions. Salisbury provides its residents with parks and recreation, while the county bickers over a bear habitat that was built with surplus funds, and withholds recreational opportunities from its residents. Salisbury recognizes good, progressive leadership, while county residents vilify their past visionary leaders who unsuccessfully sought modest measures to lift them up from their poverty and ignorance. Like I say, when the county can do better for its residents, there will be little need or justification for annexation. But for now, I think annexation will ultimately be a good thing, not just for Salisbury, but for improving the conditions of those who currently do not understand what type of government best serves them. History, tolerance, open spaces, recreation, and progressive leadership belong to us all. The new residents of Salisbury need not fear. They will be welcomed to come and live the dream with those of us who have already been liberated.
Whigkid: Can you say Lincoln Pool? Hello? do you really think the city has served the residents of the Lincoln Pool area well with that crumbling mess year after year ? The only reason they talked about closing was to garner gratitude when the mayor said Ok we’ll keep it open. “Crumbs to the poor” that is the city’s motto. And please lay off county government - you try sitting where our commissioners sit and balance a budget without raising taxes. Yes we had a county manager that messed up and yes we have some commissioners who are a little over a top at times, but they are not voting to acquire land just to tax property owners. And Historic Preservation? Grimes Mills charges money to go inside when the ABC sales is on- totally illegal in the state of NC to do that , yet it goes on. And what happened to the petition against changing the name of Boundary Street to MLK? I know it existed because I saw it at Sidewalk Deli. Did council refuse to have it on agenda? Mislay it? City council is just an arm of the Chamber of Commerce anyway. How did that ugly Dollar General Store on 150 [ pop up after people prtested it? T Council wanted taxes generated. I do believe they would approve a brothel if it raised tax dollars.
People need to remember the cost of having the water & sewer lines run by your home (IT’S NOT FREE). almost 10 years ago it was going to cost each household around $25 a foot for the line to go past your home. Ex. 100 feet of road frontage = $2500. Then there is the connection fee & having to pay a plumber to run the lines to your home. NOT CHEAP. If you happened to live below where the sewer lines are run you have to pay to have a lift station installed. Can we say 10’s of thousands of dollars. Then your stuck with a water & sewer bill that can get expensive. At this time my water is free (except for the power to pump it out of the ground). and it doesn’t taste like chlorine. Plus drinking chlorinated water can lead to bladder cancer. Just Google (chlorinated water and bladder cancer) and see what you find. READ this article http://www.naturalnews.com/021508.html.
I lived in the city on N. main from 1991-1995. and moved because i had a growing family. And could buy a house for $100,000 in the county and was paying the same amount of taxes as the house in the city worth $50,000.
This whole area is becoming urbanized, and you can thank the property rights “peanut gallery” who fought the land use plan. Urbanization is the product of uncontrolled growth. And annexation is the product of urbanization. If the peanut gallery had been well-informed enough to understand that the land use plan would have protected rural land owners from urbanization, then there would not be such a threat of annexation now. And ironicly, the same peanut gallery is at work fighting annexation. It’s all coming home to roost now. Maybe the Post can give them space for an editorial column to explain their contorted logic. Our history, and our rural heritage, are endangered species that are going down the drain thanks to those clowns.
Whig Kid or any other pro-annexation POV:
Please enumerate for me these services the city will provide that my family so desperately needs. I am open to persuasion, but I am unaware of anything the city can do for my day to day life other than take about $100/month from my family. What do we get in return?
If no one can clearly articulate these phantom benefits, I propose a boycott of the city of Salisbury should I and others be FORCED to pay for the privilege of living in Salisbury. I can tell you exactly from where the $100/month will come for me, it will come from the RETAIL dollars I spend in Salisbury. I hope my friends an neighbors will do the same, cease SPENDING in Salisbury. My family spends a considerable amount of money month after month, year after year in Salisbury, more than enough to nullify any argument that we somehow benefit from services for which we do not pay. That will cease if I am forced, against my will, to become a resident of the city of Salisbury.
Keep in mind that this issue impacts every person living in the state, not just Rowan County, and not just the NC 150 area! Not only will it have negative, and unwanted effects on property owners, persons renting homes in those areas annexed will in all likelihood see an increase in their cost of living expenses and rental rates as well.
Boycotting sounds easy enough. Heck you can even buy food online now and it will be delivered right to your door. We should however still purchase as much as we can from local COUNTY farmers, but if you have to drive to a store there is always Spencer, Granite Quarry, or even Concord for that matter!
I wonder where all the political candidates stand on this issue? Their view on this matter would most definitely have an impact on my vote!
In the meantime there is already a website and petition addressing this issue and it can be found at:
Citizens of North Carolina UNITE
http://www.stopncannexation.com/
“Just Say NO To Involuntary Annexation!”
OK, to ALL RESIDENTS OF THE AFFECTED SUBDIVISIONS ALONG THE NC 150 CORRIDOR THAT THE CITY OF SALISBURY WANTS TO RIP TAX REVENUES FROM:
Lets look at some items:
What are we getting from this venture? Double taxes county and city.
What are we going to pay for this venture? 3.2 million dollars over a 25 year period.
Does the City have this money to spend right away on the families that are being affected by this annexation? Of course not !!!
Will the City pay for the additonal “hook” up fees associated with the so called services to be offered by the City ? Of course not !!! YOU THE RESIDENT HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE YOUR SELF OUT OF YOUR POCKET. !!
If you do not use the services will you still have to pay the additional taxes? OF COURSE !!!
Did the City volunteer information as to how school zoning will be affected?
Of COURSE NOT !!
Is the City looking after the interests of the ENTIRE COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS BY PROMOTING JOIT EFFORTS THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH SIDES? Of Course Not !!
Lets add the increase in the amount of homes for sale that the NC 150 annexation will bring.
WITH AN ALREADY EMPOVERISED ECONOMY IN ROWAN COUNTY, LOSS OF JOBS, HOMES, AND BUSINESSES CONSIDERING TO MOVE TO OTHER LOCATION(S) AND OTHER ECONOMIC FACTORS, “DOES THE CITY OF SALISBURY WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY THAT BRINGS MORE RECESSION UNTO ITS CITIZENS ??”
Instead of promoting more business ventures, to attract businesses to the City and Rowan County, thus filling empty buildings and homes with potentially NEW TAX PAYERS to the area, The City will just take the money out of its citizens who are already struggling to survive and cause them more harm than good.
Is this what The City of salisbury and the mayor’s Office wants for its citizens?
Or should the citizns just band together and get NEW REPRESENTATION in the Mayor’s Office AND City government ?
We pay our taxes so that the people we put in office help and PROTECT ITS CITIZENS NOT HARM THEM!!!!
Is the City Government going to be ready to assist the elderly living within these communies from losing their homes because they are on fixed incomes and will not be able to pay the double tax rate ? WHAT ABOUT THE 1ST TIME YOUNG HOMEOWNERS TO BE THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THEIR 1ST HOME DUE TO THE INCREASE IN TAXES THAT PUTS THEIR FINANCES OVER THE LIMIT
DOUBLE TAXES IN A RECCESSION TYPE ENVIROMENT IS A CRIME !!!
People need to call the Planning Dept, City Council, mayor’s office and ask them what they plan to do to help those they are about to take and cause them financial harm as well as promoting more DEPRESSED CONDITIONS IN AN ALREADY POOR ECONOMY !
On a personal note We choose to live n these subdivisions to raise our families and also spend our money in the City, which in turn helps tghe City grow and function and exercise their continued business growth with the taxes the spending generates for the City already due to business growth that attracts us in the County to spend money.
Apparently The City has taken an attitude of “NEVERMIND YOU ARE YOUNG, OLD, JOB LEFT” We The City are just going to take your money anyway !
I believe in the United States of America, and the Constition that I have proud defended as a Veteran for many years and hold Several Honorable Discharges and now The City of Salisbury and the Mayor’s office are going to violate those rights by imposing Involuntary Annexation, thus taking our rights away from us ?
Is this what Americans want out of their respresentatives or do we need change?
Want to see as many people as possible at the Civic center, vote NO ANNEXATION AND ASK YOUR STATE RESPRENTATIVES IN RALEIGH TO HAVE THE LAWS CHANGED TO KEEP THIS TYPE OF INJUSTICE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN ANYWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA !!!
Regards,
Harry Rivera USN-VETERAN DESERT SHIELD/ DESERT STORM
AND PROUD OF IT
CALL TO ACTION People PLEASE go onto the website mentioned above and register your opposition to this forced annexation. Also email the contact person and let her know we are opposed. We need people to contact Arnold Chamberlain, a Neel Road resident and Rowan County Commission Chairman and ask him to help get us mobilized.! You can reach him via e-mail at the Rowan Cunty website. Just google Rowan County NC and it will come up. Also, if anyone knows who led the fight seven years ago could you contact him or her and see if there is interest in fighting again and being our leader. An organized boycott is so effective according to the stop annexation website. Start by refusing to do business with Paul Woodson at Vogue Cleaners, great service there but he is a poor decision maker on city council. Also pull your money out of the Carolina Bank on Jake and tell Mark Lewis why. Avoid Pete Kenndedy for real esate. I have no idea what the other coucilman does for a living. The Mayor, well she seems to just wear blue suits and drops the “g ” from any word ending in ing from her speech. Doubt we can do much to her economically. But we can send a message to council that we will avoid businesses in the City of Salisbury! How much farther is it really to the Mooresville Belk and a dry cleaner and Food Lion in China Grove ? We can do this!!! People remember the Montgomery Alabam Bus Strike? It worked . Come on Baby Boomers, remember your roots, do not take this annexation lying down.
I have been in contact with the(?) guy who organized the last opposition, or at least was intimately involved (yeah, I said intimately, huh huh, huh huh). Let me call again just to be polite before posting any info here. I believe we will have ample support.
Something else to ponder.. when it comes time to ante up, I take this view - if we do nothing, the money starts coming out of out pocket as of June 30. I’d rather VOLUNTARILY give the money to legal counsel than be FORCED to give it to the city. I’m more than willing to spend for an attorney if we can at least delay the action. we could easily double, triple or even quadruple our investment in counsel if we have enough participants.
Christopher Crowell
Summerfield, 2003
Thanks Christopher! We all need to dig deep in pockets to support a fight. We need to be a public relations nightmare to the City Council because that is what they fear most. If you look on th epropaganda section of the stop annexation website mentioned in one fo the recent blogs, you can read a memo put out by the association of NC Cities and it outlines their plan about opposition to forced annexation. Perhaps we can get a group to meet at the Locke firehouse on 150 asap to launch the opposition. I am fearful everyone is just sitting around waiting for someone else to start. Also it makes me nervous some Glen Heather residents I know who are newcomers since the last effort to annex us are apathetic.We all need to be willing to go door to door to get the word out that we are willing to fight . I hope someone out there speaks fluid Spanish so we don’t overlook some support near the neighborhoods. We also need to call for an immediate boycott of city businesses from car dealers to dry cleaners and write letters to the editor of the Post and The Charlotte Observer declaring it.. A press conference would be a good idea as well. Has anyone called Arnold Chamberlain? Got to run to my public employment job!
To Kelsey and Crowell and everyone else out there, I am Hispanic and also a NC Notary (bilingual) who just happens to live in Summerfield, so will the Hispanic community find out, yes they will. They are also affected and need to vote NO also !!!
Here is something for them:
Para todo los que son residentes en la area oeste de la ruta NC-150, la Ciudad de Salisbury y su Alcalde quieren subir los impuestos que estan pagando por sus residencias del tal manera que muchos de ustedes no van a poder pagar para poder vivir en ellas. Si son duenos, o estan pagando renta estos impuestos van hacer mas (al doble) y por la manera que la economia esta, pues se van haber en una situacion de peligro economico para vivir.
Deben responder con NO contra los impuestos de la Ciudad de Salisbury y su Alcalde. La oficina del Govierno de Salisbury deber reconocer a los Hispanos que viven y gastan su dinero en Salisbury.
http://www.stopncannexation.com/
Deben de ir y demostrar su voz, vallan a la direccion en sus computadoras y
registrar su NO con el Govierno de Carolina del North y escribir al Governador para que haga cambios sobre esta Ley para que nadie sea afectado por causa de personas que solo lo que quieren es dinero y lo que prometen va hacer menos que lo que los que viven y son residentes van a recibir.
Gracias por su atencion sobre este problema.
Harry Rivera
Thank you Mr. Rivera! We need you and all property owners to fight this forced annexation. I await another blog posting from Mr. Crowell advising us what is next as far as leadership. We should meet this Saturday morning once we decide it is a go. Often the firefighters at Locke will post meeting times and subjects once we get permission from them to meet. Mobilization is crucial and then we can organize by neighborhoods. I can do Hidden Hut , anyone else out there want to help? Please post here. Keep in minds residents, being in the city will change your options as far as activitiesd in your own backyards. There is even a limit to the number of dogs and cats one can house. I know we have at least one family in my n’hood who raises show cats and that would not be an option if annexation is sucessful.
When we first moved to North Carolina, we considered both living in the city limits and living in the county. We chose the county because we saw few benefits in being part of the city. It’s now 15 years later, and our feelings haven’t changed. How the city could involuntarily annex an area that residents clearly don’t want annexed is beyond me. We don’t want your water, we don’t want your sewer, we don’t want your garbage collection and we don’t want to pay higher taxes for services we already get, thank you very much. Leave us alone!
also if anyone is website savvy or knows of one where we can go to post news of the effort to stop annexation, please post a blog. Please, no Facebook or M y Space, too public and one can never remove the postings. Thanks
still no word from the attorney who was involved before (not as legal counsel).
let me see what I can do with a blog, similar to how this page is set up. I have my own hosted domain. I have phpBB and WordPress I can use at no extra charge. give me a day or two.
sadly, I can’t do anything this weekend. I’m booked solid, morning noon and night. no opps until Tuesday at earliest. weekend after next is good, tho. don’t let that stop anyone. while I would like to be advised by someone with experience, don’t wait on me. you can always bring me up to date (hopefully on my website!)
how about some domain name ideas? they can be had real cheap, I may have a free one coming somewhere, don’t recall offhand.
Harry, look fwd to meeting you, neighbor! everyone for that matter..
Crowell..
I live at the very bottom of Forrest Drive. I would like to know how in the world (and when) the City of Salisbury would get me the sewer and water services that they promise?? NEVER PROBABLY but if this goes throuhg then none of us should pay one cent until the services are in place. Also, I just don’t understand what are all of those city services that we use but don’t pay for??. Maybe if someone could explain them to me I would have a differnet outlook. However; noone has been able to explain them to me yet!!!!! Therefore; I think these people that talk about us getting these free city services are CRAZY!!!!
I have my own water (and much better tasting than city water mind you), I have my own sewer and it works great. I have a godd volunteer fire department that is close to my house. If I’m in the city, where is the fire department then???
I’m like someone said above. If I wanted to live in the city, then I would move to the city. Instead of FORCEFULLY annexing people, why dosen’t the city work on eliminating all of their wasteful spending and cut out those stupid raises that they give to city council members for doing nothing but sitting around and thinking up ways to get money out of more people. If they did that then they would have some money. I’m just wondering how the City feels knowing that they will put a very heavy strain on hundreds of families that can barely afford to pay their taxes now. How in the world can these peoiple sleep at night?? They must not have a conscious at all.
In closing, just tell me what I owe for legal fees to stop this very stupid city move.
How about :
stopsalisbury.com
propertyrights.com
150westfree.com
Yes we can organize, meanwhile let us all call friends and neighbors and get the pulsebeat of property owners. All of us can call neighbors who have longevity as property owners especially those who were affected and involved last time by the city’s imperialistic efforts. Talk to people at Ron’s Grocery, get names, emails etc. Maybe Ron’s could be a command post, although they do like to sit around and smoke in there , but if we could stand it. Ron’s really is a central location that is open most of the time. Or maybe the Peeples sand and gravel place next door. Communication is key of course. I hate that this blog is so public but we just have to trust who we are respponding to till we have an alternative. Thanks Mr. Crowell!
Kelsey28147@hotmail.com
I just spoke to my contact again, local atty Ron Bowers. We seem to be on the same page, but he suggested not to rush a meeting just yet. Let’s plan loosely for sometime in the next two weeks, maybe the weekend after next. as suggested, we need a place to meet. Locke would be nice, and we’ll certainly put in a polite request to the dept.
He’s not much for internet communication, so let’s work on that aspect for now. We’ll use this blog for now and I’ll try to have an independent site before I get tied up for the weekend.
Meanwhile, Mr Bowers is going to make some more calls, too. I’ll talk to him again in a few days and keep the flow both ways until we get a meeting arranged.
Viva la Resistance! lol.. ;)
Residents who wish to make their voices heard need not wait for a ‘leader’ to step forward. There are three upcoming opportunities to stand up and be counted:
February 18th: The Rowan County Commissioners have scheduled a full discussion on the problem of Salisbury Annexation, at the commission meeting room in the county building on the first block of West Innes Street. The meeting begins at 7 PM, and if you desire to make public comment, you must arrive before 7:00 to sign up. The commissioners will discuss the Salisbury annexaiton problem shortly after public comment, and will publicly discuss their legal options. All 3 State level elected officials from Rowan County have committed to attend, to hear your comments: Rep. Fred Steen, Rep. Lorene Coates, and Sen. Andrew Brock. Andrew Brock has sponsored at least 5 anti-forced annexation bills in the NC Senate, but the NC League of Municipalities has exerted enough political pressure to prevent them from advancing to become law—so far.
February 19th: The Salisbury City Council has its meeting at 4 PM. Of course, unlike the county, Salisbury makes it as difficult as possible for most people who are employed to come out, unless you can leave work or close your business early. But many of you are retired, or work in jobs that finish before 4PM. In order to be recognized as a speaker, one must contact the City Manager’s office this week, to implore him to add you to the agenda. (Good Luck!) Otherwise, why not prepare homemade signs, and wear name tags with slogans? Make your presence known—Salisbury’s leadership could benefit from a change in the usual horse-and-pony show! But be on your best behavior, or an anonymous author of a Post editorial may accuse you of “using intimidation over persuasion.”
February 21st: The Rowan County Land Use committee is holding its first “PUBLIC WORKSHOP” on February 21st at WEST Rowan High School cafeteria from 5-8 PM. That is your opportunity to make your voices heard, by sending a message to the City with a “standing room only” overflow crowd. The committee has discussed the problem of Salisbury’s land grab, and is looking for public input from you.
February 28th: The Rowan County Land Use committee will hold its second “PUBLIC WORKSHOP” on February 28th at the SOUTH Rowan High School cafeteria from 5-8 PM. Again, a standing-room-only presence would make headlines, and send a message to the City and our county’s State level elected officials.
Finally, make sure that you pass around a signup sheet, where everyone can share their email with one person who can be designated to email the entire group that night with the others’ email addresses. You may choose to contact Rod Whedbee at rodwhedbee@bellsouth.net if you want to get some ideas on how to most effectively get the message across. This is how the Rowan Property Rights Alliance has been able to mobilize the masses when critical issues have arisen since 2004. And they have yet to lose a battle. It’s all about organizing and getting your message to the right folks.
Thanks for the great info. I’m all too new to this, so your advice is music to my ears.
I should be able to make both meetings. We’ll see if I can get on the city agenda.
Citizens against Salisbury forced annexation:
On Monday night, February 18, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., this annexation issue will be discussed during the Rowan County Commission meeting. Attending this meeting will be NC Representative Fred Steen, NC Representative Lorene Coates, and NC Senator Andrew Brock. This will be a an excellent opportunity for all citizens to hear first hand where your local and State officials stand on this very important issue.
Jim Sides
I’m 100% against the annexation along Hwy 150. I have free water and sewage and trash removal costs only $16 per month. I have county police and fire protection. What then could the city of Salisbury possibly offer that I don’t already have? What will I receive for the more than $1000 in city property taxes that I will have to pay? Nothing except torn up roads and front yards and even greater expense when sewer and water lines are installed. Look at what the city did to Westcliff. Beautiful yards and streets were all torn up as well as residents’ bank accounts.
So the bottom line is that I and thousands of other will be forced to pay large amounts and receive nothing in return. That’s why we object to forced annexation.
Thanks Berry!! I too and totally new to this and will try to be at both meetings and tell others.
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is prudent that people do attend in masses to the forums that are being scheduled so that We The People, show that we will NOT HAVE OUR RIGHTS VIOLATED BY A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DON’T EVEN LIVE IN THIS AREA. Let people be advised, call Channel 9 News, New14.com, Channel 3, radio stations, contact Governor Easley and The State Legislators, and don’t forget Mr.President Bush and Congress.
Ask your Representatives why in theses hard economic times when Even The President of The United States is desperately urging Congress to find ways to cut taxes and prevent people from losing their homes, why would a Mayor and a City Council decide that they are above The Federal Government and put many elderly and low income families (Americans and Minorities alike) that live in the area in ECONOMIC DETRESS !!!
Is this the leadership We want ? Send copies of this Blog to your Representatives, Governor and President…let them know that they need STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND STOP THIS TYPE OF INJUSTICE IN NC AND ACCROSS THE NATION.
Perhaps then will those who serve in the offices WE PLACE THEM IN WILL REALIZE THAT “WE THE PEOPLE” ARE THE FINAL VOICE OF THIS GREAT NATION and not themselves as they may proclaim to be.
Its time People Took Care of People, not just a few trying to tell us what to do by hiding behind the Law.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/cgi-bin/handler-interact.cgi
http://www.governor.state.nc.us/Contact.asp
mailto:assignmentdesk@news14.com
mailto:executive-editor@nytimes.com
mailto:nywireroom@dowjones.com
http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml
http://origins.usa.gov/external/external.jsp?url=http://www.ncsl.org/public/leglinks.cfm
HERE ARE A FEW LINKS TO HELP.
Remenber, the meetings and ask why would the City Council and the Mayor’s office make meetings at an hour that most people are still working, is this to prevent people from voting and not being able to voice their opinions against issues that would only benefit a few ?
This is not what I defended The Flag of The United States of America for many years to have done to us veterans and citizens!
County Commissioners We The People expect Great Things from you All.
Lets Win This and make this An Example Not to be repeated Again by any group
in government here or anywhere in the United States.
Thank You,
Harry Rivera
As 30 year residents of Homestead hills development, we were involved in the previous organized effort to stop the City of Salisbury’s effort to annex the Hwy 150 area. Unfortunately, some of the leaders in that earlier fight no longer reside in the area. However, many of us do remain and are willing to fight against this annexation attempt. Rhetoric and demonstrations may be attention-getting, but it will require mainly systematic legal action, financial support for that, and volunteer mobilization, as well as good communication. The earlier fight was won in the Courts, and this fight will be no different. You can be sure that the City of Salisbury learned a few lessons in the first effort and will proceed with an educated experienced legal staff.
I think it is too late to expect the N. C. General Assembly to do anything by legislation without it being x-post-facto regarding Salisbury’s current effort.
Our earlier annexation fight was before the internet was a developed means of mass communication. It will certainly be a big asset in creating an effective resistance effort. We were able to use Locke Volunteer Fire Dept and facility for our initial and continuing meetings and forum. Hopefully they will cooperate in allowing its use again.
We have a much larger residential area being affected by the proposed annexation than was involved before, because the right side of Hwy 150 was excluded due to some requirement involving sewer lines and land fall, so Windmill Ridge, Hidden Hut and Neel Estates were not included then, as they are this time. What regulations or rules have been changed, I’m not aware. But, since they are included now, we should have an increased population support for another fight. There have already been many enthusiastically-stated arguments as to why we are opposed to this forced annexation effort, so I will only underscore them and voice agreement. We now must begin an organizational and financial mobilization backed with legal expertise, and the sooner the better, for the City of Salisbury is moving quickly. So must we affected residents.
J. O. Lowery
Let me just say these things, whether we like it or not:
-The are under consideration is considered urbanized, and easily qualifies for annexation
-even if legal funds are raised for the first court, can more be raised to continue the fight in higher courts?
-the County will not be able to do a thing, this upcoming “hearing” about Salisbury’s annexation is futile. They are two totally different jurisdictions.
-unfortunately, the general state statutes regarding annexation are on Salisbury’s side
Because we fought the City of Salisbury in the court system and took it all the way to the State Court of Appeals, we were able to win the battle. As a consequence, for the past ten years we have saved the residents of the proposed annexation area many thousands of dollars in taxes, much more than the legal fees cost us, although they were high, it has proved to be an economical expense to say the least. With more people in our area now the cost can be shared if everyone can chip in their part. We need a fund -raising effort to employ the specialized legal a
assistance that will be neccesary. We need to move to do this ASAP.
There are a couple of legislative options, in case the litigation option looks like an ultimate loss:
- Ask the local State delegation for a 20 year moratorium on Salisbury Forced Annexation, like the legislator did when Cumberland County’s delegation requested it (over League of Municipality and city official protests) in the 1980’s against Fayetteville’s land grab to sustain its fiscal irresponsibility. Such a ‘local bill’ would not be limited by the idea that Salisbury has already targeted your area. But ia local bill requires UNANIMOUS resolve from each of the three: Coates, Brock, and Steen. If only ONE of them breaks ranks, it won’t fly.
- Ask the Annexation Task Force on which Fred Steen serves to enact a Statewide moratorium until the final draft becomes law. (Very unlikely to succeed)
- Ask the local State delegation to unite to sponsor a bill to de-annex the Rowan Airport from Salisbury. Again, that would be a ‘local bill’ which would require the unanimous support of all three State delegates.
One other Interesting analysis: The county alone stands to lose a quarter million dollars a year in sales tax revenue due to this proposed annexation. It would benefit the county to foot the legal fee bills even if it cost Rowan $100,000 per year., since a 2.5 year backlog in NC’s courts would effectively keep the sales tax transfer at bay until the case is ultimately resolved. That’s called “positive revenue flow.” Even if the court case were ultimately lost, it would benefit ALL Rowan taxpayers for the county to make the investment in fighting Salisbury’s annexation in Court.
Are there any internet sites up and operating as yet? Does anyone plan to make signs, print name tags with slogans, or attend Monday\’s meeting to hear what our three state elected officials are willing to commit to?
I am attending tonight and plan to arrive a early to get a seat. We know that someone needs to schedule a community meeting. This blog is informative but will not get the job done.
Thank You for all those who attended the meeting and expressed their desire to
see this take a positive forward move. Now we need to diligently pursue to assist
our County Commisioners and our State Representatives to Victory over this issue that will probably end up in the HISTORY BOOKS as the EVENT TO GET NOT JUST NORTH CAROLINA, BUT THE ENTIRE U.S.A.TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT ITS CITIZENS FROM LAWS THAT BY DESIGN ARE NOT UNTIL UN-AMERICAN BY VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS, BUT IN ESSENCE A CLEAR SLAP IN THE FACE OF OUR U.S. CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS.
Not to mention the amount of IRATE VOTERS THAT STAND TO MAKE AN IMPACT
NOT ONLY WITHIN THE COUNTY, AND THE CITY AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE.
We The People, ask of our officals to protect our interests and develop our way of life in the communities WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN, so if annexation should occur
(WHICH OF COURSE WILL NOT !!!)
….OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL BE TO REPLACE THE CURRENT REPRESENTATION IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT FROM THE MAYOR AND DOWN, ESTABLISH THE REMOVAL OF
ANNEXED AREAS, GIVE THE COUNTY BACK CONTROL OF THE DEFINED AREAS AND ENCORPORATE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BECOME ONE
ENTITY INSTEAD OF 2 SEPERATE DIVISIONS AS MANY CITIES THRU-OUT
THE US HAVE ALREADY DONE.
SINCE THE COUNTY ALREADY PAYS FOR SERVICES THE CITY ALREADY
USES !!!!!!
City of Salisbury should stick to development of commerce and attract businesses in joint City-County Projects, introduce better standards for education for both upper and lower income residents thru ROWAN COUNTY AS A WHOLE,
Diversity is a Gift freely given by those who reside here, City of Salisbury views May 5 as diversity, Well, let me enlighten City Government;
The Hispanic Communities is diverse, and we don’t all celebrate May 5, we have
varied cultures and histories, but WE ALL DO HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON, WE DON’T LIKE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO TELL US HOW TO LIVE IN OUR OWN HOMES, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CONSENSUS OF ANY AMERICAN
WHETHER WE ARE BORN HERE OR OUTSIDE THE USA, AND FOR MANY CHOSE TO SWEAR THEIR CITIZENSHIP TO THE FLAG OF THE USA, …
NOT THE FLAG OF THE CITY OF SALISBURY.
We will be watching and getting our voters ready!!!!
Regards,
Harry Rivera
Finding it funny how our Commissioners Chair voted in favor of using county govnermnet dollars to investigate and defend an annexation that includes his own house… talk about a conflict it seems?
Also, not sure I like using government funds for a lawsuit for private citizens - last time I needed legal help the county did not bankroll my cause. While I feel sorry for you guys being annexed, I really don’t want my tax dollars funding the defense of a special group when they need to be spent on other budget things for all county residents. The last annexations they have done over the years, none of them were paid by the county. What has changed? Do low income people and businesses not matter? Why does the county care now to pay for defenses - because of money and their house being in the area… Why is our state politicians caring this time and not others when my friends were annexed and asked for help. No one helped them last year.
Owning property in the city and county it is interesting. I pay city taxes and county taxes on my in city property but the sheriffs office doesn’t serve my city property. Guess you can look at duplicate service all kinds of ways. How about a county rebate for city residents for county services not used like Sheriffs.
Yall should fight this as it seems fit but something aint right.
There is now a blog by which we can communicate:
http://www.rowanpropertyrights.blogspot.com
[Posted by 66.20.162.243 via http://algart.net/ww This is added while posting a message to avoid misuse.
Try: http://webwarper.net/webwarper.exe Example of viewing: http://webwarper.net/ww/~s~av/salisburypostnie.com/blog/wp-login.php ]
PING! Anyone still reading?
Several things combined have kept me away. I was out of town for a long weekend just before the meetings (left Friday, didn’t hit the ground in Rowan until almost 4pm Tuesday).
I also happen to work somewhere that partisan politics are against company policy. Public policy is specifically mentioned and this seems to fit. Some states don’t allow such policies, not sure about NC. Unless NC happens to be such a state, I’ll take a back seat but still be active in discussion and future meetings. I’ll stop short of running a site with a blog or whatever about this issue, at least for now pending my research in NC laws.
However, A friend of mine has created a Yahoo group (email list) as a central point to share information and keep up to date about the forced annexation by the city of Salisbury. Communication is easy – just hit reply to email messages or send a new message to the group – and you don’t have to keep up with a bunch of email addresses, cc:’s, etc. If this duplicates any other known efforts, let us know ASAP. Otherwise, please join the group, encourage others to do the same and share what you know so we can all stay up to date.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CRCAFA
Crowell
Summerfield, not Salisbury!
Hi folks - I wanted to thank the Salisbury Post for helping to raise awareness about this very important topic, and for offering this blog as a place to express our views. With the large turn out at the public meetings and the views expressed here, It became clear that we needed a place of our own to continue this discussion and coordinate our efforts. Thus we created a forum for that purpose and we invite you to join.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CRCAFA/
Hello! I think the City of Salisbury should just go ahead and annex ALL of Rowan County. Sure, this would allow the extra revenue needed for further useful ideas such as ………..even bigger lunches for assistant city managers…company cars could then be given to ALL city employees. You have my blessings. How about this… Make better use of your current level of taxation. Hire a consultant to tell you how to spend TAX dollars……efficiently…………….
the people who dreamed up this mess should be put in a place where they can’t hurt themselves