Category: Government

Lessons from Council’s summer days. South Asheville organizes, process woes send bus system plans back to the drawing board, the bond vote moves forward and policing comes under serious scrutiny Above: Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by Max Cooper. Summer, including this particular, blistering…

The controversial company managing Asheville’s bus system almost gets another three years, as a process falls out amid withheld information, major questions, dueling committees and ongoing problems Above: the aging SUV used to ferry transit passengers when the system runs out of buses due to…

A state legislator’s trying to drastically gerrymander Asheville’s city elections. Here’s why that push matters, and where it comes from Above: A list of census blocks making up the proposed Council districts in state legislation that would force Asheville to switch to a district system.…

Council votes, reluctantly, for a developer’s relocation deal and sets the stage for some upcoming conflicts over transit, elections and more Above: Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler. File photo by Max Cooper. One of the biggest votes of the year passed without much remark in Asheville City…

Asheville’s boards and commissions have a lot of power and shape the whole city. But despite increased interest, they remain whiter, wealthier and more male than the city they represent Above: City Hall by night, photo by Max Cooper This is a collaborative project between the Blade…

The city of Asheville is set to pass a $161 million budget. Here’s what’s in it — and just as important — what isn’t It’s that time of year again, as Asheville City Council will, next week, vote to pass an annual budget, specifically $161…

Due to two major lawsuits, there’s a second primary tomorrow for key state Supreme Court and congressional races. Here’s where to vote and what it means Yes, fellow Ashevillians, we’ve been here before. Our state primary was March 15, after all, with people weighing in…

Tensions escalate over short-term rentals and the city budget as Council decides exactly how far it will go — for now Above: Mayor Esther Manheimer, who cast the deciding vote against allowing Airbnb-style rentals in the city’s garage and basement apartments Rowdy is not usually…

The Lee Walker Heights overhaul is one of the largest housing deals in Asheville’s history. It just took a major step forward, as the city also cut a deal with Duke. A look at the complicated history of power, poverty and race behind the project…

Council condemns HB2 after some last-minute changes, sketches out the coming budget and gives the go-ahead for a major greenway, over some opposition. Also: bear selfies. Above: Anti-HB2 protesters move onto the space near the Vance Monument after a smaller, pro-HB2 demonstration leaves on April…