The Winston-Salem Journal weighs in on “annexation reform.” They throw annexation opponents a bone, but pretty much side with the N.C. League of Municipalities before concluding:
Many of America’s great cities were seriously undermined by a flight to suburbs and unincorporated areas during the 1950s and 1960s. This robbed core cities of the resources they needed to provide services to what amounted to a regional population. North Carolina wisely strengthened its annexation laws to avert the worst of such urban flight and that is why our cities are strong today. The law can be tweaked, but its foundation — the protection of our municipalities — should not be undermined.
So that’s why today’s cities are strong, eh? Then why are they lining up left and right for fed money about to be handed out by the Obama administration?