Category: Views

With little discussion or transparency, Asheville City Council moved this week to end downtown’s fare free transit zone, an important aid for some citizens. That needs to change, and any changes to the zone deserve a full public discussion Above: The fare free zone in…

Whooping cough is making a local comeback. More on this once-defeated disease, why it’s returning and how our society’s frayed Above: The Bortedella pertussis bacteria that causes whooping cough, image from the Center for Disease Control Whooping cough is an easy disease to ignore. With…

The coal-fired Asheville power plant is causing dangerous air pollution. It’s time for locals to push to rein Duke Energy in and protect our air. Above: the Asheville power plant. Photo from the Beyond Coal campaign. Every three to four days, communities downwind of Duke Energy’s…

Once again, an important request for public records faces lengthy, unexplained delays from the city of Asheville. It’s time for this disturbing pattern to end Above: City Hall, file photo by Max Cooper. Update: The city of Asheville does track records of police complaints in annual…

It’s time to bring the focus on violence against trans people as the Fix Society movement pushes locally for justice, better services and an end to hate Above: A flier for the recent Fix Society rally and forum in Asheville. Photo by Jennifer M. Barge.…

A conversation with activist Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson about regional solidarity, organizing for justice and how Asheville can win its struggles Above: Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson during the Chattanooga Day of Resistance protests. Photo by Jared Story. A few years ago, some might have asked why a…

Despite the regard given them by local government, the Downtown Association has some very controversial positions and only speaks for a sliver of this changing area. Who actually represents the city’s core is a much larger — and overdue — question. Above: Fireworks over downtown…

Despite Asheville’s aspirations of being a first-rate city, this is a place dangerously focused around cars. How that happened and how we can change it. Above: A pedestrian tries to navigate Tunnel Road. Photo by Don Kostelec Human beings are designed for walking. Our streets…

A recent immigration executive order promises to give relief to hardworking families, including mine. That’s now in limbo, but we fought to get here and we’ll keep fighting for justice Con cariño Victoria comparte a su gente en Español Above: An image from the Not…

I was drawn to Asheville by hopes for happiness, a supportive community and education. I found low pay and few opportunities before I was forced to leave Above: Downtown Asheville at night, photo by Bill Rhodes This is the latest in our Leaving Asheville series,…