Springhill08, I do not live in the city limits and don’t want to live in the city limits, I do however shop in the stores outside the city limits and don’t want to pay city taxes for services I do not recieve. Study up on the subject and the proposals before commenting on them.  If I wanted to pay the higher taxes I would shop in the city and live in the city.

We need some experts to explain the annexation laws in Alabama.  To me they read like every land owner contained within the proposed area should have a voice and that a city can not grab large amounts of open land unless there are at least two qualified voters for every so many acres.
. Now, how those commercial land owners make their voices heard is another matter, because it is true that most of them do not live in their businesses.
. The Code of Alabama goes on to define “owner” as the person that pays the property taxes.

SpringHill08 wrote: “To the people that are complaining about extra taxes: you are already benefiting from citizens in the city paying those taxes to service you, so now it’s time to pull your own weight. “

We would love NOTHING BETTER.  Tell your City leaders to leave us alone and get out of our community.  The City of Mobile DOES NOT have to provide Fire & Police within the 3 mile jurisdiction.  They just choose to so they can collect the 2% additional sales tax in the area.  We don’t want them here.  We would rather have the county protection—the Sheriff’s Dept and the Volunteer Fire Dept.

So we are definitely in agreement—you just need to communicate to your elected officials to keep their services within the boundaries of your City limits.  Keep your police and fire protection and your money in your City.  That would be a WIN/WIN for all of us

SpringHill08—take a look at the map first before posting.  It would help if you were better educated on the subject first.  If the Kings Branch subdivision wants to join Mobile, then I’m all for it.  I have absolutely NO problem with that whatsoever. 

What I DO have a problem with is the entire business corridor along Moffett Road all the way to Schillinger.  That area DID NOT ask to join the City of Mobile.  That area is commerical/retail and no one lives there—so that area does not have a voice to vote in the annexation election.  They are being taken and included in this area against their will.  I’ve talked to the local business owners and they OPPOSE annexation by the City of Mobile.

And, all of the citizens living just north and south of the Moffett Road area that were deliberately left OUT of the vote and not allowed to have a voice.  They are all part of the same community—but the lines were gerrymandered around them.

The point opponents of the annexation proposal is that the way the lines are drawn, not only do they take the neighborhood that wants to join but it leaves out people living in the surrounding area.  For example, they want the business on moffett but they dont take the remainder of the block.  And as far as the tax issue and those of us in the county getting a free ride is mistaken.  The city sales tax is 4% which is to cover services - police, fire, garbage, streets lights etc.  In the 3 mile police jurisdiction - we pay 2% to the City for the police and fire - we dont get any of the other service.  And if we add to the city burdens by driving on the city roads etc - we are paying 4% when we shop at the Mall or along schillingers.  In fact, county officials have asked for info about whether the city actually spends our 2% on the police and fire services they are required to do so by law.  You just have to look at the proposed map - the fewer the voters the better chance for annexation

I am glad this area will be annexed because the majority of these people seem to want to be in this city.

To the people that are complaining about extra taxes: you are already benefiting from citizens in the city paying those taxes to service you, so now it’s time to pull your own weight.

Mayor Jones should be known as the TAXATION Mayor from this point on, not the mayor who put the interests of the voters in his city before his own political agenda.  His annexation plan is all about getting money for his pet projects within the city of Mobile itself (i.e. the cruise ship terminal, the convention center, the so-called tourist district downtown, etc), not about improving the quality of life for the citizens of Mobile.  The economy of Alabama is well known to be one of the weakest in the country, but Sam Jones can’t think of any other way to increase revenue other than to take it from the people who can least afford the extra expense. To deny the citizens of Alabama their right to vote on issues that affect their quality of life and their ability to afford to survive in today’s economy is not the American way.  No one should be denied the right to decide what their money is spent on. Let’s all protest this injustice to the state senators in Montgomery. We must be heard!

To the citizens of the CURRENT city of Mobile, please think long and hard about this plan.  If the city cant provide garbage services, police protection, fire protection, and general public services for thier CURRENT citizens hhow are they going to provide it for these areas also? The mayor and city council are trying to get a bigger tax base, and I will bet you within the next year they WILL vote themselves a raise and no money will go to these areas they are highjacking.  A false belief that the city will provide services and parks for kids, and a better life is nothing more than just that false hope.  Schools and residents will not see an improvement from this.  Please don’t let the mayor and the council lead you into a false belief of CHANGE, it will but not the way you think.

We (the citizens of Mobile County) do not know what was presented to the DOJ!  Let the public see this annexation plan in its entirety!!!!!!!

What does this say to Businesses that would look at moving to Mobile?  It says the City leaders are crooked and only looking out for personal interests.  Guess what Sam Jones you are not getting re-elected.  And as far as Sammy saying the Justice Department has approved this I really don’t believe that and think he said that so no one would contact them.  Keep running Mobile in the ground Sammy.