Call out the National Guard! Once again the city’s land pirates are intoxicated! The land-grabbers on Elizabeth City City Council are once again attempting to take productive farmland so that they can increase electric rates under the ruse of concern about the city suffering a blackout. The true motive, however, is to produce more electricity at higher costs so that they can increase rates and pass the costs on to the residential customer. If our mayor really believes that we should lower usage then there should be no danger of a blackout.

Once again this site the city wants — the Mansfield property off Main Street Extended — is environmentally a bad location for an electric substation. In order to put a substation there, there should be an environmental impact statement performed in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency. The land the city is trying to annex is located in a flood zone; is a nesting area for migratory Canadian geese, great blue herons and wood ducks; and is located close to a wetlands area that has a stream flowing throughout our community. Add to that the threat from an electromagnetic field to a church’s day-care center and the increased possibility of flooding in the surrounding community, and an environmental impact statement is very important to the well-being of our community.

The new annexation bill passed recently by the state Legislature  helps prevent cases like this one. There will be a petition circulating to prevent this land grab. If you want higher electric rates, light pollution and increased risk of exposure to electromagnetic fields, and you approve of the use of eminent domain, don’t sign the petition.

The city manager stated in The Daily Advance recently that the city paid less for electricity the past two years because of mild temperatures. Anybody see a reduction in their electric bills?

Let’s stop this farce quickly! The hypothesis of using less electricity to reduce consumption is invalid. We tried that theory with driving higher-priced smaller vehicles to reduce gas consumption. Did the price of gas decrease? Nope!

ERNEST ASKEW

Elizabeth City