Category: Views

Asheville’s City Attorney has consistently taken stances against basic government transparency. It’s time for Council, and the people, to demand better of a major public servant Above: Asheville City Attorney Robin Currin. File photo by Max Cooper. Recent events in Asheville have turned an eye,…

Hall Fletcher families grapple with a lack of transparency and democracy in a city school restructuring that threatens to make issues of segregation even worse Above: Hall Fletcher families, teachers and staff gather on Feb. 2 to offer proposals for restructuring their school. Photo by…

The future of Asheville’s downtown is in the balance. It’s time to have a much broader discussion about what that future should look like Above: downtown Asheville by night. Photo by Max Cooper Downtown Asheville never really leaves the news. It’s not just the seat…

Despite misinformation and outright lies, you have a legal right to talk about how much you’re paid. Given Asheville’s catastrophically low wages, it’s time for this culture of silence to end Above: Tupelo Honey’s downtown location. Last year, following wage cuts for support staff at…

With the support of our readers, the Asheville Blade did a lot in 2015 and helped change our city for the better. We aim to do even more this year Above: Fireworks outside City Hall. Photo by Bill Rhodes As winter (finally) arrives, Ashevillians shake…

During the Waking Life protests, activists mobilized to fight misogyny and rape culture in our city. Here’s an inside look at what happened, and some important lessons Above: Protesters outside the closed Waking Life coffee shop in September. Photo by Max Cooper. In September, protests and…

For too long the city has neglected the Walton Street park and pool, a place of history and community. It’s time to change that Three months ago, the Southside Community Advisory Board started a petition to save the Walton Street Park/Pool in an effort to…

Behind the results of election night upsets, the most closely-fought race Asheville’s seen in many years and the beginning of an era of conflict Above: Campaign signs outside the Board of Elections during early voting. Well, that was interesting. In a few hours last night,…

Campaign season sees a profusion of forums for Asheville City Council candidates and the public. A local photographer gives a look at one forum in her area, and what the candidates said Above: Five Asheville City Council candidates — Rich Lee, Lindsey Simerly, Julie Mayfield,…

For too many in Asheville, a single box on a job application bars them from a shot at a future. But there’s a better way, and a growing local movement to change that Above: A logo for the national Fair Chance — Ban the Box…