Category: News

Name: Kristen Goldsmith Profession: Retail manager In up to three words, describe your political affiliation: Progressive Democrat In one brief sentence, describe yourself and why you’re running: As a former architect, and current shift worker, I’m focused on sustainable development for Asheville, including affordable housing and fare-free…

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…

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…

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…

With the fight over the Flatiron looming, here’s a primer about the many battles over one of Asheville’s fastest-growing and most hated industries Above: the Flatiron building, which the owner and a hotelier are pushing to convert into a luxury hotel, kicking out the roughly…

Water lines break, City Hall’s communications fail, the public’s questions go unanswered and locals are left wondering if the water’s safe to drink Above: documents from a press packet handed out by city officials this afternoon, depicting a somewhat sunnier picture (and clearer water) than…

Behind the controversies that weren’t discussed, the Airbnb presentation that wasn’t presented and the closed door dilemmas looming over a brief, bizarre Asheville City Council meeting  Above: Asheville City Council. File photo by Max Cooper As a place where systems of power touch the ground, a local…