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…

Asheville’s bus system needs real support to help thousands of locals. But the city’s proposed budget puts money to top-level staff and policing rather than the needs of the public. That must change Above: Part of the map of Asheville’s bus system, which thousands of…

Rolled and Roasted’s history of blatant transphobia, mistreatment of workers and unsafe conditions lie behind a supposed local business success story Above: A Haywood Street billboard advertising Rolled and Roasted alongside other local businesses. Showing how deep the rot runs in multiple businesses in town,…

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…