THE BONDAGE OF CITIES - The Community Environmental Legal ...

CITIESMJ3T GET PERMISSION TO MOVE.THE LEGISLATURE GIVES THEM SUCH POWERS AS ITPLEASES,ABRIDGES AT WILL, OR ANNULS THEIR PRIVILEGES,MAY EVEN DIVIDE THEM OR CONSOLIDATE TWO OR MORE OF THEMINTO ONE WITHOUT THEIR ASSENT,ATTACH A CONDITION TO THEIR CONTINUED EXISTENCE,OR ABOLISH THEM COMPLETELY.IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW, A CITY IS"A CREATURE OF THE LEGISLATURE."THISMUNICIPAL SUBJECTIONCONSTITUTES ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL REA8ONSTFOR THEMISMANAGEMENT OF OUR CITIES,THE CORRUPTION OF OUR LEGISLATURES,AND THE LACK OE LOCAL PATRIOTISM AMONG OUR PEOPLE.ISTHE REMEDYA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTGIVING CITIES AND TOWNS THE RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHARTERSWITHIN BROAD LIMITATIONS, ANDSUBJECT TO LEGISLAT ON RESPECTING STATE INTERESTS.BUT FREE OF LEGISLATIVE INTERFERENCEINLC'.AL BUSINESS AFFAIRS,WHICH SHOULD BE GIVEN OVER TOMUNICIPAL SOVEREIGNTYON THE SAME PRINCIPLE THAT HAS ESTABLISHED NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTYIN NATIONAL AFFAIRS, STATE SOVEREIGNTY IN STATE AFFAIRS,AND INDIVIDUAL SOVEREIGNTY IN INDIVIDUAL AFFAIRS.