The blood is in the water: The ink is barely dry on the Ellington disaster when another (ugh) developer is shopping his vision for Asheville to our elected officials. His vision? More high-rise, twenty-plus story buildings in downtown Asheville. I will be curious to see how much more the voters in Asheville will allow the … Read more
On Jan. 29, I attended a Grove Park Sunset Mountain neighbors meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Church. The meeting was sponsored by the Historic Resources Commission [of Asheville-Buncombe County]. The topic was the proposed renovation/construction by St. Mary’s [Episcopal Church] on Charlotte Street. The general tone of the meeting was opposition to what St. Mary’s … Read more
Kudos to Jeff and Karen Lazzaro for trying to do something to clear our streets of cigarette butts [“ButtBusters: A Litter Bit at a Time,” Xpress, Jan. 30]. Being in the local transportation business, I spend the majority of my time transporting visitors around our community. With all the litter along the interstate, the drive … Read more
Yes, hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana) are in grave danger throughout the eastern United States, and Patrick Horan described an overly optimistic scenario in his “Saving Hemlocks” [letter] on Jan. 30. While Horan is correct that biological controls are the best long-term solution to the hemlock wooly-adelgid epidemic, he does a disservice to the … Read more
Is it appropriate for the city to admit they made (and make) mistakes? Don’t we hope the city protects the rights of an individual, or groups of individuals, with the same vigor as they protect the needs of a business with a well-connected attorney? Could it be appropriate for the city to accept responsibility for … Read more
This is in response to Douglas Stronblotz’s letter to the editor, “Wipe Up That Footprint” [Jan. 23]. Mr. Stonblotz is concerned with the politicizing of global warming. He fears that it’s a liberal issue designed to guilt the American consumer into riding bicycles and eating vegetables. In defense of the free market and consumer demand … Read more
Britney Spears returned to the hospital, committed because of a psychiatric disorder, which has received more press over the past weeks than the Hindenburg disaster. Whether she is truly bipolar or merely caught up in the sadness of a paparazzi-driven life, there is no question that something needs to give. The tragedy, however, goes far … Read more
Well, primary season [has] heated up. For the Democrats, it’s a choice between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. I want my vote to go the person I believe should be the next president. Hillary Clinton is sharp, bright and forceful in the way she presents her ideas. Aggressive, even. Is this what we want? After … Read more
It’s hard to know what expect next from a former president who seems to be losing his cool in the throes of this year’s Democratic primary season. Reportedly Congressman [Rahm] Emanuel and Sen. [Ted] Kennedy have told former President Bill Clinton to turn his criticism of Barack Obama down a notch, and … former Democratic … Read more
“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” Henry David Thoreau wrote that, and I believe it is referring to my candidate for the presidency, Tom Millican—the only one who is striking at the root of America’s problems (http://tommillican.com). The freedoms of America, laid out … Read more
