No honeymoon for city hall’s newest officials as the public turns up the pressure over police weapons, housing and more Above: City hall by night. File photo by Max Cooper. It’s a clarifying time. It’s easy to forget that local governments are grinding on, still…

This danger is not new and Asheville’s political establishment will not seriously fight it. As always, it’s up to us Above: Asheville police form a ring around far-right harasser Chad Nesbitt. Special to the Blade. There’s an image that’s been stuck in my mind this…

The Biltmore estate is a monument to greed and exploitation. Its actions during the pandemic put workers and the public at serious risk The Biltmore is at the heart of Asheville’s tourism industry. But the largest private home in America — and the array of…

After a strange election in a strange year, a new city council lurches into office in an embattled city hall Above: Asheville city hall under renovation, photo by Bill Rhodes This year has, by every standard, been a revealing one. Asheville’s been a divided city…

The infamous arms dealer’s about to get millions from local governments to build one of their murder factories right here in our city Above: ‘Not Our Town.’ Special to the Blade Caution: This article contains images and descriptions of horrific violence First it was “Project…

Now more than ever, politicians will not save us and communities must organize and defend ourselves. From the Blade collective, here’s some honesty Above: Anti-racist graffiti on the Vance monument in June. A more honest statement than any campaign ad. Special to the Blade. Editor’s…

More disconnected from the public than ever, Asheville city council tries to fill a vacant seat as they pretend nothing will ever change Above: Asheville city hall. File photo by Max Cooper Facing more public distrust than ever, Asheville City Council has ripped free the…

On Aug. 9 a Blade journalist was dragged out of their car, attacked and arrested by Asheville police. This is their story Above: The author, just after their release from jail, showing some of their injuries Back in June, with anti-racist protests growing in strength,…

Committees and empty words are not reparations. Black Asheville needs land, resources, power and the defunding of the police Above: part of the 1937 map that redlined Asheville. All but one of the areas marked in red are Black neighborhoods, tagged in the ensuing decades…

Local government’s usual tactics fail to contain public outrage, as their meetings are hit with an unprecedented number of locals are fed up with their violence and hollow excuses Above: An Asheville police vehicle in front of a wall with graffiti neatly summing up the…