cities' rights

Big government Republicans put the squeeze on cities over annexation:

Both bills are aimed directly at five cities, one of which is Wilmington, that challenged last year's bill that made it virtually impossible for cities to take in territory that has developed around the outskirts. They also impose long waiting periods – one of the bills would make it 12 years – before a city can attempt another involuntary annexation of the same area.

These unincorporated developments sort of remind me of a tick on a dog's back: The tick couldn't survive without the dog, but the dog gets nothing in return except a sore neck.