Annexation Gerrymandering

Date: 6/5/2005 2:16 PM
Sand Hills community seeks change
Nestled just outside Pinehurst and in the shadows of Aberdeen, residents in the small community of Jackson Hamlet live dramatically different lives than their golf-going neighbors.

News & Observer.com articles:
UNC center pushes annexation

UNC Center for Civil Rights Examines Annexation Inequity


Click here to read the 6/8  N&O Letter to the Editor
by Allan Parnell, vice president of the
Cedar Grove Institute for Sustainable Communities

"What the Press is Saying..."
Cedar Grove Institute for Sustainable Communities

"The View From the Other Side of the Tracks" 
wbur.org - Boston NPR

Poverty & Race Research Action Council writes:
"Minority Exclusion in Small Town America"

More on Annexation Gerrymandering from UNC Center for Civil Rights

'Invisible Fences: Municipal Underbounding and Minority Exclusion'
On November 12, 2004, the UNC Center for Civil Rights explored a widespread by under-recognized problem: the historic exclusion of African American, Latino and other minority communities from the municipal boundaries of southern towns. Residents of these excluded neighborhoods typically do not receive city water, sewer, paved roads, streetlights and/or other municipal services. The conference brought together over 170 people including legal scholars, community advocates, government officials, social scientists and students to discuss numerous issues raised by municipal underbounding. Conference Brochure & Agenda

UNC Radio (91.5*) aired a show  that discussed NC Annexation, the Moore Co. lower income neighborhoods "passed over" for annexation.
It's worth listening to hear Mr. Hankins trying to "dance" around obvious points about the flaws in NC Annexation Laws. Ron Thoreson from StopNCAnnexation participated by phone in the conversation. Alan Parnell participates and a 'call in' from Cary Council member Mike Joyce rounds out the show.
Listen to the online rebroadcast on UNC Radio: click here

What do all the victims of NC Involuntary Annexation have in common?
Citizens are victimized by the capricious use of annexation statutes that give Cities and Towns broad discretion to pick and choose areas to annex or ignore. Affected NC citizens have no voice or power to employ checks and balances on abuses of this power.

Cities should not be allowed to 'cherry-pick' land for their own convenience!
IT'S TIME TO REFORM NC ANNEXATION LAW!