Category: News

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…

As public pressure to fight a state-imposed racist gerrymander mounts, Council finally breaks their silence, revealing more delays and refusing to challenge a part of the law giving them another year in office Above: Mayor Esther Manheimer, who finally responded to mounting public outcry about…

The giant 1920s-era murals in City Hall are drenched in an ugly racist history, depicting a mythical all-white Appalachia and a glorification of genocide. It’s time for them to go. Above: ‘The White Man’s Family Council’ (yes, that is actually its name), the Clifford Addams…

Despite claims of a new era of transparency, the selection of one of Asheville’s most powerful jobs — city attorney — is being decided behind closed doors, with no public input and few clear answers Above: A binder of city attorney candidates and a confidentiality…

Will there be a city election next year? Will it use racist gerrymanders pushed by the state? Will City Hall fight back? What happens if they don’t? A look at the big questions looming over local politics. Above: City Hall by night. Photo by Max…