As usual, a liberal bent to The Pilot’s “wish list” for the legislature (May 20). Oh, well.

But as for your comments about annexation, specifically the two laws which I hope to witness passed this week, “Both seem like misguided and wrongheaded efforts to meddle in what should be local decisions.”

The constitution of the state of North Carolina, Article VII, Local Government, says:

“Section 1. General Assembly to provide for local government. The General Assembly shall provide for the organization and government and the fixing of boundaries of counties, cities and towns, and other governmental subdivisions, and, except as otherwise prohibited by this Constitution, may give such powers and duties to counties, cities and towns, and other governmental subdivisions as it may deem advisable.”

Yes, the General Assembly has “given” the right to conduct local involuntary annexations to the municipalities, but it has retained the right to set municipal boundaries when they think it necessary.

Evidently, they think it necessary to do so for nine municipalities. Lots of folks agree with them.

Doug Aitken

Pinehurst