An open letter to Asheville’s candidates
Our city is in a time of crisis, one that our current political culture is badly unprepared to deal with. But each election is a chance for change. For Asheville’s candidates, here’s a few things you should take to heart Above: City Hall under renovation.…
Referendum time
City leaders place a referendum on district elections on the ballot — but they don’t want it to pass. Behind the state’s gerrymandering push, the latest item on the November ballots and the looming legal fight Above: Proposed Asheville City Council districts under last year’s failed…
Running dry
Old wounds, segregation, a lack of transparency and skyrocketing costs all collide as the city’s ambitious plans to overhaul the river district flounder Above: A painting from the cover to the 2004 Wilma Dykeman Riverway plan, depicting part of the imagined future River Arts District.…
Worlds collide
A public showdown at City Hall sets the stage for the final act of the budget wars and marks the end of a political era Above: Luis Serapio, one of the first interpreters at an Asheville City Council meeting, translating the meeting into Spanish on…
The tale of two budget expansions
City officials have treated two budget expansions — for police and transit — in ways that are very different and revealing about local government priorities Above: City Hall by night, photo by Max Cooper. Tomorrow, Asheville City Council is set to vote on the City’s…
About Asheville’s Government, a primer
Stemming from the successful ‘About Asheville’s Government’ presentations, here’s a handy list of resources, links and context about your local government Above: City Hall under renovation, photo by Bill Rhodes Welcome back, readers. I was fortunate enough to engage with many of you during our…
Reply hazy
It’s the most contentious budget year in over a decade and as the public ramps up to officially weigh in, many key parts of the city’s $174 million budget remain undetermined or unclear Above: Asheville by night, photo by Bill Rhodes. From policing to the…
The crisis is real
How the city backed away from defending renters, the housing crisis fueled segregation, a climate of fear faces tenants and much, much more on a key Asheville issue. An interview with Robin Merrell, Parker Smith and Ben Many of Pisgah Legal Services. Above: Graffiti criticizing…
About Asheville’s government
Our city’s government is incredibly important, but it can be hard to understand or to know the most effective ways to become involved. So the Blade is providing public presentations to answer all those questions. Local government is incredibly important, shaping everything from housing to…
A sense of urgency
Major racial disparities in traffic stops and questions about police reporting, building for months, finally take center stage as Council dubs the situation an ’emergency’ Above: A chart from Open Data Policing‘s analysis of the Asheville Police Department, showing that black drivers are far more…
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