Category: Views

Council candidate Sage Turner bills herself as a progressive reformer, but her real record is mired in terrible worker treatment, shady hotel deals and pushing relentlessly for more cops and gentrification Above: Turner tending her hives, photo from the French Broad Co-op’s public relations material.…

The Blade asks about cutting the police department, funding transit, reining in hotels and more as we take aim at the candidates running in the Asheville City Council primary Above: City Hall under renovation. Photo by Bill Rhodes Yes, Asheville, we are once again asked…

Using sham community meetings and fake neighborhood groups, the far-right pushes for more cops and crackdowns. Asheville’s city government is supporting them. Above: pictures of homeless people sleeping in downtown. The images were produced for an August meeting of local gentry calling for more police…

The defeat of a racist gerrymander is a victory — and a stark reminder that shaking Asheville’s status quo takes a lot more than elections Late last month, amid a growing public backlash, Asheville City Council voted 6-1 to repeal most of a state-imposed gerrymander…

For nearly 40 years, the TDA has spent significant tax dollars to market Asheville to the wealthy and privileged — and done untold damage. It’s time to abolish them and chart a new course Above: The construction site of the new Marriott hotel on Merrimon…

Public outrage pushes Council out of City Hall and towards taking action on hotels and a racist gerrymander Above: Asheville City Council, file photo by Max Cooper Tonight, something unusual will happen. Asheville City Council will leave their usual perch in City Hall — still…

The fight for workers’ power is taking place all over the world, the nation, North Carolina — and right here in Asheville Labor issues and worker fights are all over the headlines lately. Amazon employees went on strike for better labor conditions this past year.…

Council has the power to undo much of a state-imposed bill rigging the local election system. But despite growing public outrage, they’re doing nothing. Above: Asheville City Hall by night. Photo by Max Cooper Yes, it’s that time once again. The agenda for tonight’s Asheville…

The Flatiron hotel proposal comes back before Council tonight. Behind the vindictive rent hikes, sleazy connections and special exceptions made for the hotel project the public hates Above: The Flatiron building, home to 80 local business and organizational spaces. A proposal before Asheville City Council…

Public outrage finally gets a hearing as the latest city budget promises more of the same and the rift between the public and City Hall widens Above: Council at their dais. File photo by Max Cooper. After over a decade of mounting distrust in Asheville…