Category: Views

Facing growing public pressure, Asheville’s police chief finally heads for the exit. A look at the damaging legacy of the city’s most-despised public official — and what a way forward might look like Above: Outgoing Asheville Police Department Chief Tammy Hooper. File photo by Max…

Rather than a progressive place with an innovative approach to substance use, Asheville has created a culture that exacerbates the overdose crisis. An inside look at how a city zoning crackdown can cost locals their health and lives Above: A pro-harm reduction message painted on…

Strange applause, another broken promise on policing and massive blind spots mark a dismaying turn in City Hall Above: Asheville City Council, file photo by Max Cooper As one, all seven Asheville City Council members marked the opening of their Sept. 25 meeting by rising…

The return of a state plan to gerrymander city elections and break black voting power gets a surprising boost from a Democratic senator — and sets the stage for a major civil rights fight Above: A map of gerrymandered Asheville City Council election districts in…

City Attorney Robin Currin’s far-right legal views have played a key role in halting progressive change. Now she’s resigning. A look at the damage she did, and what might happen next Above: Asheville City Attorney Robin Currin, file photo by Max Cooper The announcement came…

The choice facing Asheville is clear. In fights over NAACP reforms and the annual budget, City Hall is ground zero for the long-brewing fight between pushes for reform and the city’s historic racism, now openly backed and defended by the police chief and law enforcement…

Enough is enough. The Asheville police chief’s awful track record, deceptions and inexcusable inaction mean she must be removed from office. Our city can’t have change while allowing powerful officials to keep their positions no matter what damage they do. Above: Asheville Police Department Chief…

Video of an APD officer brutally assaulting a black man walking home from work shines a harsh light on the reality of our city. But it was enabled by a city that has repeatedly failed to take the depths of racism in its own backyard…

City manager Gary Jackson, the most powerful person in city government, is retiring. How he defined an era of Asheville’s politics — and who bore the brutal cost of his administration Above: Jackson’s name plaque, with him in the background, at the Asheville City Council…

The story behind a new Council, deep divides, a historic election and the fight over the heart of a city Above: the new Asheville City Council, shortly after its Dec. 5 swearing-in ceremony. Photo by Max Cooper. Ceremonies are revealing things. The one that took…