The response to recent protests by APD leaders and the city attorney’s office is marked by petty retaliation, contempt for civil liberties and repeatedly shifting explanations, giving locals of all political stripes cause for major concern. Above: a slide in an Aug. 3 APD presentation about…

Asheville’s political culture is lately turning to wealthy executives to craft the response the affordable housing crisis. Excluding the people most affected by the crisis while giving leadership to those who caused or profited from it is a bad idea. Above: a map of city areas…

While most attention is focused on the presidential and gubernatorial races, WNC’s state legislature seats will help shape the future of North Carolina politics With election season in swing, the Blade will run occasional perspectives from locals, especially focusing on politics in our corner of…

Council sends the first bond referendum in nearly 20 years to the voters in a short meeting that illuminates the divides ahead Above: Asheville City Council member Cecil Bothwell. File photo by Max Cooper. Asheville City Council’s Aug. 9 meeting was a short one, just…

This November city voters might have the choice over $74 million for affordable housing, transportation and parks and rec. Behind Asheville’s first bond referendum in nearly two decades Above: City Hall under renovation. Photo by Bill Rhodes. Seventy-four million dollars. That is, by any standard,…

Lessons from Council’s summer days. South Asheville organizes, process woes send bus system plans back to the drawing board, the bond vote moves forward and policing comes under serious scrutiny Above: Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by Max Cooper. Summer, including this particular, blistering…

On July 2, an APD officer shot and killed Jerry Williams. What’s known, what isn’t and what’s behind the public reaction that followed Above: Demonstrators embrace during a July 9 march through downtown. Photo by Micah Mackenzie On July 2, around 7:12 p.m., Asheville Police…

Coverage is temporarily delayed due to an injury and trip to see a family member. Thank you, readers, for your continuing patience and support Above: Downtown Asheville by night. Photo by Max Cooper. Hello, Blade readers. I want to thank you all for your patience…

The controversial company managing Asheville’s bus system almost gets another three years, as a process falls out amid withheld information, major questions, dueling committees and ongoing problems Above: the aging SUV used to ferry transit passengers when the system runs out of buses due to…

A state legislator’s trying to drastically gerrymander Asheville’s city elections. Here’s why that push matters, and where it comes from Above: A list of census blocks making up the proposed Council districts in state legislation that would force Asheville to switch to a district system.…