Brunswick Beacon, 08.29.24
Brunswick County’s newspapers have recently run pieces from District 3 Commissioner Pat Sykes claiming to be “amazed” by statements about the legislative land grab of the Southport Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Her amazement underscores how completely out of touch she is with the community.
Southport recently strengthened its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), responding to citizen concerns about clear-cutting and high-density development. Developers saw this as an unacceptable threat to their profits. So, their public officials (follow the money) held a closed-door meeting with developers, without advance notice, nor public input, and declared the ETJ protections null and void.
Sykes mischaracterizes this ETJ seizure as a “relinquishment,” claiming that “Relinquishing the ETJ has nothing to do with developers. It has everything to do with the citizens that live in the area.” There’s a vast difference between relinquishment and seizure, Ms. Sykes, and it explains the fury of those you were elected to serve.
Sykes brags that she, Senator Bill Rabon, and Representative Charlie Miller have done plenty for Southport. That’s their JOB! We’re supposed to be thankful that she’s actually doing her job?
Ms. Sykes boasts: “Since Representative Miller and I are two people born and raised in Southport, and relinquishing the ETJ has nothing to do with developers but the citizens, I can state that we have worked exceptionally well and done our elected duties for our District over and above.” She ends by asserting that “The citizens in this district need to be thankful for all that has been done and will be done.”
No, Ms. Sykes; we’re anything but thankful. If you’d sell out your beloved hometown to the developers who fund your campaign, don’t expect our gratitude. We’ll only feel thankful after November 5, when Bob Fulton, your opponent for District 3 Commissioner, sends you packing.
Arthur Hill
Southport
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