War on the poor
Asheville city government declares war on the houseless and attacks protests, the press, mutual aid groups and anyone who dares to speak up Above: Asheville police move to block off a table with food and supplies during the Dec. 25 raid. Photo by Veronica Coit…
Behind the raid
Last April’s police raid on the Aston Park camp set the model for future crackdowns. Documents reveal city officials rejoicing over arrests and seeking to please gentry groups Above: Asheville police gather for the April raid on the Aston Park camp. Photo by Veronica Coit.…
Christmas night crackdown
Asheville police mark the holiday with a night raid on the Aston Park camp and arrest two Blade journalists for reporting on it Above: Asheville police surround the Aston Park camp and prepare to attack on Dec. 25. Photo by Veronica Coit Blade reporters Matilda…
The plot to sell Asheville to airbnb
City hall tries to sneak through a new measure, written by airbnb landlords, to bring in even more airbnbs and kick locals out on the street Graphic by Orion Solstice Tomorrow, Dec. 14, sees the last Asheville city council meeting of the year. It’s bad,…
Asheville has a right-wing city council
Forget the marketing about a “historic” council. The current crop of Asheville’s elected officials are easily the most conservative in over a decade Above: Asheville city hall by night. File photo by Max Cooper “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: there must be…
The propaganda line
Asheville police and a right-wing pr firm unleashed a wave of propaganda falsely portraying the city as overrun by violent crime. Overwhelmingly, they targeted Black people Graphic by Orion Solstice. Quotes are taken from Colepro marketing material as well as APD press releases and emails…
On the removal of the Vance monument
After tear gas, lies and excuses Asheville’s racist power structure loses a years-long battle, as the notorious monument finally comes down Above: the removal of the top of the Vance monument last week. Photo by Orion Solstice. In May 1898 the Vance monument was completed.…
Eviction season
Asheville police lie about a brutal crackdown on houseless campers and the locals supporting them as city hall ramps up its efforts to please the tourism industry at all costs Above: A banner outside the Aston Park houseless camp. Special to the Blade Blade reporters…
Mapping Asheville’s COVID-19 workplace outbreaks
Local government officials have pointedly refused to ever name the locations of outbreaks at Asheville workplaces. So we are Tourism hubs are ripe for pandemics. Travel, bars, indoor dining and hotels are all some of the industries that spread a disease farthest and fastest. As…
Lies, damn lies and hotel regulations
In the face of public outrage, Asheville city hall is set to open the floodgates on a wave of new hotels while the industry does more damage than ever Above: The message is simple. No. More. Hotels. Asheville hates hotels. This is not new, of…
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