Forced Annexation

I am 100% against forced annexation. It just doesn’t make sense....and it certainly is not going to make dollars either. The residence of the surrounding area of Goldsboro, did not buy or build their houses with the intention of becoming Goldsboro city residence. No one seems to know who brought this idea up first and it seems that no one wants to admit it.

It was often foolishly stated, without thinking, "If it doesn’t grow, it will die". It was not taken into consideration that if you force feed something it will also die, or at least have unsightly stretch marks and become disfigured. Goldsboro needs to grow gracefully, from within as well as from without.

If we had our priorities in check, the surrounding areas would be begging us to annex them on a Voluntary basis. We have virtually nothing to offer them, that they don't already have. Except to extort some of their money.

Now not too long ago, Goldsboro was biting it’s nails as it awaited to hear the decision of the Base Closing Commission. Had Seymour Johnson Air Force Base been slated for realignment we would have been a ghost town in no time. Our livelihood depends on the Air Force Base. We need to have a backup plan, a second income, and Forced Annexation is NOT the answer. The city of Goldsboro, like many other municipalities, is strapped for money and struggles to provide services to current residents.  If this proposed annexation passes, the city has to issue bonds of close to seven million dollars ($7,000,000), to install services, in this case primarily sewer.  The expected pay off period for these bonds is 35 years, close to one half a life time.  Taxes collected from the area will not cover operating cost.  In essence the city (council) is creating debt on top of debt and further impacting an already over tasked service infra structure.

We can have a Civic Center that won’t disrupt the lives of 1,100 plus law abiding, peaceful citizens in another community. There are also other viable options, one of which is to entice new businesses and industry to develop in our area.

I once heard the definition of a law suit. It’s 2 people pulling opposite ends of a cow, claiming it’s theirs, and the lawyers are in the middle milking it.

Right now this issue is costing the average taxpayers of the city thousands of dollars in legal fees. It is mainly benefitting the city’s law firm which is more than willing to continue the case ad infinitum

About the time BRAC (Base Realignment and Closing) was underway and everyone thought that Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro's prime source of income may be a candidate for closing, some genius came up with a bright idea. ‘‘Let's find a way to make a lot of money real fast to keep Goldsboro going if we lose Seymour Johnson". A dusty plan, put on a back burner way back in 2000 or so, was resurrected and instituted. It was an annexation plan to increase the tax base for Goldsboro.

It was decided that a large amount of revenue could be raised if Goldsboro annexed some neighboring communities and it was voted to annex property on the east and west sides of Salem Church road and on the north and south sides of Buck Swamp Road. Some subdivisions, or parts of subdivisions, have been included. They are Ashby Hills, Fallingbrook Estates, Morgan Trace, Buck Run, Pineview Acres, Tarklin Acres and Canterbury Village. This is known as Phase XI. These areas had some choice real estate. In addition to prime property, the area had attempted to incorporate and start their own town earlier. They were unsuccessful in their first attempt but it was feared they may resubmit the incorporation plan in the near future. So it was decided that "Northbrook" was a threat and should be the first to be eliminated.

A forced Annexation plan was set in motion, and legal battles to this day are causing the taxpayers of Goldsboro (you and me) to bear the cost. These people are not to be underestimated. There is power in numbers, they have fought a gallant battle and don't intend to surrender. There are an estimated 1,100 lives in the balance. If Goldsboro is successful, it will add 1,100 unwilling citizens to it tax base.

There has been some discussion about a Boycott of The Entire City of Goldsboro, not just by the targeted victims, but by all others surrounding Goldsboro, that will eventually fall prey to the city's greed.

This would be a "sympathy strike" of sorts. It is based on the philosophy of the domino theory, as is best described in the following maxim:

First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
.......................................... Pastor Martin Niemöller

Can you imagine the full impact of a boycott on our city? People going to neighboring towns to shop and eat, canceling the services they have with Goldsboro based businesses? Insurance agencies, grocery stores, gas stations, supply stores and business owners all losing good customers and revenue? This, in full force, over an extended period of time, could cause job loss and a rise in local unemployment, even some rental loss as businesses close their doors and employees move on to find work in other counties. .........it won't be a pretty picture!

Hopefully, Good Neighbors United (G.N.U.) will eventually find favor in the courts, or Goldsboro City Council will have a change of heart and cut their losses and drop the silly notion of "Theft by Invasion". If Forced Annexation prevails, the city council will have 1,100 new citizens with an attitude going to the polls next election. I would suggest a slightly different approach, using their 'Power in Numbers' , which is explained in the "How You Can Help" section of this website.

If Goldsboro prevails, anyone living within a 2 mile radius, should prepare to be it's next victim. Phase XII is already on the chopping block, which "...encompasses the Cedar Lake, Marsh Landing, Buck Run, Tarklin Acres, North Creek, Land Tree Village, North Point, Canterbury Village and Pineview Acres subdivisions. The annexation, which would become effective June 30, 2009, would affect about 2,400 people, 800 houses and 900 acres of land". Goldsboro looks at next annexation that relies on Phase XI being decided in favor of the city and used as a stepping stone. This has not happened yet, and if it doesn't prevail, a lot of money will have been wasted preparing to gulp up Phase XII. With the current mentality now serving on the city council, I would predict the next prime victim would be Rosewood. Why? Because Rosewood is a solid community and is rapidly developing. A new Wal-Mart Super store is being built and sooner or later, Rosewood will want to incorporate. This would be a threat to Goldsboro, because then there would be a limitation on Goldsboro expanding any further west.

06/29/05
Most speak against city annexation
click the title to see the whole story
BOLD added for emphasis

Annexation opponents accused the Goldsboro City Council Tuesday night of wanting to collect their tax dollars to patch problems in poorer, inner-city neighborhoods.

"They are wanting our tax money to revive what has been destroyed in this city," said Susan Mintz, of Plantation Road, to enthusiastic applause. "You should take the money you've got and work on building back what you've lost."

Real estate agent Judith McMillen said homebuyers are fleeing the city because of concerns about crime and schools. Annexation would stretch the Police Department even further, she said.

And James Vernon Felts, of Hines Run Drive, said he had been shocked by the apathy of Goldsboro taxpayers, ...

The atmosphere was tense most of the night. One person's sign mocked Councilman Chuck Allen's late payment of his county property taxes this year, and three speakers also mentioned it.

After Neal Stitt, who spoke for the annexation, called Goldsboro "the City of Friendly People," one audience member shouted out, "What city are you living in?"

That was too much for King, who asked police officers to keep a closer eye on the crowd. "The first person who speaks out in a rude manner, I want them out of here," he said.

But Ms. Mintz, the next speaker, told King, "The only person being rude here is you, Mayor." She went on to call the mayor "racist" for allowing Stitt, another African-American, to speak while stifling the mostly white neighbors.

Former city manager Richard Slozak testified in court last year that the main reason for the annexation was trying to bring in as much tax revenues as possible, he said. "Areas that do not meet the 'bang for the buck' criteria established by the city are left out."

The city would gain more state revenues if it increased its population, but some of that money would come from Wayne County's funding, he said. "Robbing Peter to pay Paul doesn't make sense, especially when the county has to make up for that lost revenue by increasing taxes."

Bob Pleasants of Plantation Road presented a statement opposing the annexation, which was signed by 996 people.

Pleasants said he opposes the annexation mostly for the secretive way the city has conducted it. It's wrong also for a small group of people like the City Council to dictate to a larger group that didn't vote for them, he said. "That's simply immoral and un-American."

 

05/16/07

As a candidate for Mayor, I attended the first Neighborhood Meeting of this year held at the Harding Street YMCA soccer field. The article stated that Assistant City Manager, Tasha Logan said: "I would imagine we're going to hear some issues about drainage," she said. "Other than that, I really don't know."

Residents share thoughts about needs in their neighborhoods. A lady also shared her thoughts about annexation, she said that Mimosa Park was annexed in 1992 and with the exception of Police and Fire protection, she asked when Mimosa Park would receive the other benefits that the rest of the city got?  

I approached her after she left the mike and answered her question for her. "After 15 years of being annexed into Goldsboro", I told her, 'not to hold her breath, because she might turn into a SMURF.' I also told her to go and tell the residence of Northbrook what they have to look forward to if the city brings them into the city limits by Force Annexation.' I also asked her what she thought was more important to the current city council Stoney Creek Park or Mimosa Park....(It's a No Brainer)

By Ms Logan's statement (prediction) about drainage problems, goes to show that the city already knew about this before the meeting. It's not like this is a newly discovered issue, it has been around for some time. But at least the lady got a couple of slices of Pizza in her belly to go with that warm fuzzy feeling of being able to tell them about the problem.

06/10/07
Sheriff concerned about covering city annexed property

Just because it is Legal, does not mean it is Right!
Prostitution is legal In Nevada ~ but it is not moral !
Slavery and Human Trafficking is still legal in many parts of the world ~ but it is wrong !
Forced Annexation is legal in North Carolina ~ but that definitely does not make it right !