March 30, 2009

The weeks since Cary abandoned its latest annextion attempt have been busy preparing to champion reform at the state level - the only way to permanently Stop Cary Forced Annexation.

Our reform effort is taking shape. At this point here is the big picture. We have to support the "good" bills with email/letters/calls. And we have to show a sea of red support for annexation reform at the rally this May 6th - so save the date and join us downtown.

Many bills have been introduced on annexation reform. Even Senator Rand and the League have introduced bills on reform! A sign that this year the topic has gained traction in the Legislature.

It will come as no surprise that many of these bills are window-dressing only, and promote none of our 3 required features for reform.
(For more information and analysis of the bills, see StopNCAnnexation.com

The grassroots organizations of StopCary.com, StopNCAnnexation.com and Fair Annexation Coalition are standing behind two bills as the only ones that provide "real" reform - one in the House, one in the Senate.

Senate Bill 494 introduced by Senator Larry Shaw

House Bill 645 introduced by Rep's Dollar, Brown Goforth and Steen and now co-sponsored by Blackwood, Blust, Cleveland, McComas Starnes and Stewart.

Need more info how SB 494 bill compares to the one offered by Senator Rand and the League? To clarify the differences in this bill and the one sponsored by the League, read this analysis or  contact Cathy at StopNCAnnexation, as she drafted the legislation for Senator Shaw to submit as a bill,

Compare how these two bills stack up as regards to our 3 essential reforms: meaningful voice, meaningful oversight, and meaningful services. The differences are remarkable.

Interested in more background information of events since Feb. 12th and the campaign work at the State level?
See "Bill analysis" of the many bills being proposed this year.

Feb. 12, 2009

Our efforts to influence the Cary Town Council succeeded beyond our expectations. Last night just before the Public Hearing was to begin, Council member Julie Robison moved that the Council abandon moving forward with all of the proposed annexations at this time. Her motion was seconded by Council Member Jack Smith. Following discussion, the motion passed unanimously. As a result, there will not be a follow-up vote as originally outlined in the correspondence from the Town.

I believe there were three primary reasons why the council chose this action, based on extensive education from residents, StopCary.com, and help from StopNCAnnexation.com and the Rowan County citizens:

• Current Economic Conditions
• Legislation in Process at the State Level
• Our Environmental Concerns for the Area

If you have connections with any Town Council members, please take the time to thank them for their decision.

On behalf of StopCary.com, I want to thank everyone who has helped support our efforts. It was great to see so many of you at the Public Hearing last night. I also want to recognize our neighbors who had been preparing for this battle for months and even years. We would not have prevailed without the work of Ron Thoreson (co-founder of StopCary.com) and Cathy Heath, Coalition Director of  StopNCannexation. In addition, N.C. Representative Nelson Dollar was a strong advocate for our position and helped lobby members of the Council.

Looking to the Future

Unfortunately, Cary has not abandoned its three-phase, 10-year annexation plan so it is very possible that the annexation process will be resumed in the future. So it is important for us to attempt to influence the NC Legislature in this session as it debates revision of the N.C. Statutes that permit forced annexations by municipalities. The League of Municipalities is the primary opposition to reform. We think the House will vote to weaken or abandon the statutes and that the battle will be fought in the Senate. We will keep you posted as this year's session gears up in the Legislature.

Congratulations and thanks again for your efforts and time. We should all be proud of our success.

We had wonderful media coverage of the rally. You might catch a glimpse of yourself or some friends on TV:>)

Neighbors Yell ‘Freedom,' Town Listens
(NBC17)

Wake Co. residents resist annexation plan
News14.com - Charlotte , NC , USA
CARY, NC – The town of Cary is seeking public input on a proposed annexation plan in which 10 neighborhoods zoned in Wake County, but on the fringe of the ...

Homeowners fight Cary annexation
WRAL.com - Raleigh , NC , USA
Cary , NC — Some homeowners in the outskirts of Cary are holding a protest Thursday night against forced annexation. Hundreds are expected to attend the ...

Annexation opponents prepare for protest rally News14.com - Charlotte , NC , USA
CARY – People upset with Cary 's proposed annexation of their neighborhoods will protest on Thursday night with a Cary Tea Party, as some activists are ...

You can help make a difference. Join the mailing list or check back here to StopCary.com to keep up with the latest news and information.

Check out StopNCAnnexation.com for news at the State Legislature as they try to reform the annexation laws.