Thank you, Mountain Xpress, for H. Byron Ballard’s commentary on annexation [“The Farm at the Bottom of the Lake,” July 18]. I read with interest her perspective as someone who spent her youth in east Buncombe. At age 59, I fell off the world and into the bosom of Asheville. My fall wasn’t a stumble, … Read more
In response to “Prisoner of Starbucks” [Letters, July 18]: I have the key to your prison, and it’s called Caffiend 24-Hour Coffee and Espresso. I can assure you that our water is filtered, and we offer over a hundred teas to choose from—in addition to our exceptional coffee. I find it hard to believe that … Read more
Ah, the sounds of summer: the Saturday morning chatter at Pritchard Park, a quiet bike ride on a country road—but wait! What’s that I hear off in the distance? A jackhammer? A squadron of attack helicopters? Oh, it’s just another motorcycle with a ridiculously loud and obnoxious tailpipe. I thought there were laws against noise … Read more
Jerry Russom’s misinformed and, by his own admission, sarcastic letter “Give Him a Chance” [July 18] was just another sad example of how disinformation and personal attacks continue to plague American citizens who are still seeking the truth behind Israel’s unprovoked attack of the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967. Russom offered no sources or … Read more
I’m writing in response to Jerry Russom’s statements [“Give Him a Chance,” July 18] regarding Israel and Martin Luther King Jr. Regardless of why opinions originally expressed in the Asheville Citizen-Times are being discussed in the Mountain Xpress, let me clear up Martin Luther King’s supposed statement about anti-Zionism. What Mr. Russom refers to is … Read more
The state legislature is in the process of developing a budget, and here is one bad idea that’s being considered: a new transfer tax on the sale of property in North Carolina. Why would it be fair to tax one group of people—those selling their property—to pay for infrastructure and services that benefit everyone? I … Read more
It is time for us to stop looking at the federal government to reform health care (they are gridlocked and will forever be), and to focus on state-supported reforms. When you consider that many of our states are bigger than most countries that have national health care, one would think that we could make progress … Read more
The Asheville City Council faced a packed chamber on July 24, with many there to voice their anger over the proposed involuntary annexation of three areas south and southwest of the city limits. The crowd was so big, in fact, that many were directed to an overflow room to watch the proceedings on TV. Immigration … Read more
As someone who is rarely in bed before 3 a.m., the idea of being anywhere at 9 in the morning is anathema to me. But when I was asked to be one of the judges for this year’s 48 Hour Film Festival—along with Brenda Lilly and Jan Powell—and was promised caffeine, I couldn’t say no, … Read more
