WS Chronicle

Letter addresses legislative delegation regarding veto of NC Farm Act Honorable Colleagues:

I am writing to you as members of the legislative delegation representing Forsyth County, to urge that you vote to sustain Gov. [Roy] Cooper’s veto of SB 711, NC Farm Act of 2018.

At the heart of this bill is an extraordinary curtailment of the property rights of North Carolinians, particularly those property owners who suffer from the antiquated waste disposal practices of neighboring factory-style hog production processes.  The plain motivation for this action is to insulate one of the world’s largest global agricultural corporations from liability for its polluting methods.

The courts have historically been the place for injured property owners to obtain redress for the injuries they have suffered.  In this case, these are injuries to (often poor and disproportionately minority) families and other neighbors from the polluting practices, which have been allowed to continue under weak regulations and inadequate enforcement resources.  When regulation is weak and injured neighbors cannot even seek effective help from the courts, what possible incentive is there for a polluter to modernize its old and damaging business practices?

I believe that it would be difficult to convincingly explain to the rural residents of Forsyth County why our legislature chose to protect the profit margin of a $16 billion global corporation over the health and property rights of neighboring North Carolina families.

Please vote to sustain the veto of SB 711.

Thank you.

Dan Besse

Forsyth County resident and voter

Note: Dan Besse represents the Southwest Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council.

Supreme Court fails to protect fundamental right to an equal vote

To the Editor:

Five years ago today [Monday, June 25], the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder. On the anniversary of this decision, the Court once again failed to protect our fundamental right to an equal vote by refusing to strike down extreme partisan gerrymandering.  Partisan gerrymandering gives state legislators the power to stack districts for their political gain.  This effectively gives them, not the people, the power to choose their representatives.  This is a threat to our democracy and I am appalled by the Court’s continuous failure to address it.

This session, the Court has made deeply troubling decisions regarding voting rights. Faced with this fact, Congress must step up to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act.  It is past time for us to come together to ensure full voting rights for every American.

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12)

Washington, D.C.

Note: The above statement was made regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear North Carolina’s partisan gerrymandering case this session.