1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

This proposed legislation raises significant concerns about eroding democratic norms and consolidating power at the expense of local control and the will of voters. While framed as hurricane relief, SB 382 contains unrelated provisions that strip authority from duly elected officials across different levels of government. This overreach undermines principles of checks and balances essential to a healthy democratic system. Rather than exploiting a natural disaster for political gain, lawmakers should focus their efforts on providing substantive aid to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Funding is urgently needed for rebuilding homes and businesses, preventing evictions, bolstering rental assistance, improving unemployment benefits, stabilizing childcare, and supporting small businesses. Playing political games with people's lives and livelihoods is unconscionable. True hurricane relief requires transparency, public input, and legislation centered on the needs of impacted North Carolinians - not partisan power grabs. I urge you to reject SB 382 and instead work across the aisle on relief measures that prioritize the wellbeing of our state over political interests. Our communities deserve no less in their time of crisis.