Wilmington: Airport ready to cut elderly man's trees to the ground

From the Wilmington Star-News: Airport ready to cut elderly man's trees to the ground

Landlords irate at Cape Fear Public Utility Authority

From the Wilmington Star-News: Landlords are irate at the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, which is making landlords pay tenants' debts. more...

Forced Annexation in Wilmington

by Daren Bakst of the John Locke Foundation

Wilmington's Annexation Abuse

If property owners are being forcibly annexed and want water and sewer services, they must request water and sewer lines be provided to their property within 5 days after what is called a public hearing. The public hearing is basically a venting session where annexation victims can tell city commissioners (who don't listen) what they think about the annexation.

Wilmington just had their public hearing this week. As I was looking on the city's annexation web page, I saw the FAQ document the city developed for the annexation victims. This is the document many people will read (as opposed to the unintelligible annexation plan) Here's something it said:

“How long will it take to get water and sewer service?

Installation of water and sewer lines will occur in two phases. First, the major water and sewer lines that all other smaller lines feed into must be constructed. Then, the smaller hookups to individual residences and businesses will occur. The city plans to have both phases completed within two years of the effective date of the annexation; however, by state law only the first phase must be completed within two years of the effective date of annexation.”

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Raleigh: Berkshire Downs residents fighting annexation

From WRAL.com: Berkshire Downs residents fighting annexation

Lawmakers meeting on changing annexation rules

RALEIGH, N.C. — A committee is trying to respond to citizen complaints about the way North Carolina cities and towns acquire unincorporated areas.

The panel of legislators, municipal leaders and the public is slated to meet Thursday to recommend changes to the full Legislature about involuntary annexation laws.

Grass-roots groups and citizens attending the committee's public hearings are unhappy with how some towns and cities have annexed land. They want lawmakers to require municipalities to provide promised services more quickly and to give reisdents of the targeted areas more say over whether annexations happen. more...

Property Rights Voter Guide -- Coming Soon

Late last week, the N.C. Property Rights Coalition mailed a 12-question candidate survey to every legislative candidate in North Carolina, as well as candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. We will use candidates' responses to publish a voter guide to let citizens know where candidates stand when it comes to private property rights.

Please encourage every candidate you know, regardless of party affiliation, to return our survey. Private property rights are one of the cornerstones of our free society, and we should know where they stand on this important issue.

N.C. Property Rights Coalition launches new Facebook group

The NCPRC recently ventured into the world of social networking by launching a new Facebook group. Click here to join.

WRAL: Small towns concerned about high speed rail plans

From WRAL.com: Franklinton, N.C. — The construction of a high speed rail between Washington, D.C. and Charlotte has some city officials in North Carolina concerned about the effect it will have on small towns. more...