In a passionate display of concern for pedestrian safety, more than 250 residents packed a special City Council meeting called to address the lack of sidewalks in east Asheville. About 150 more were turned away from the Aug. 31 session after fire marshals deemed Groce United Methodist Church’s Asbury Hall to have reached full capacity. … Read more
Asheville needs much more affordable housing. This point is widely accepted, yet small groups of property owners continue to argue against it. In the opinion piece “Poor and Poorer” [Aug. 18, Xpress], the writer referenced his “poorer,”“nuisance” neighbors with their unkempt lawns, broken-down vehicles and loud parties. While some people of every economic class can … Read more
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 4:30 p.m., downtown Asheville An Asheville Police Department officer spots a black Camaro and recognizes the license number. Initially refusing to stop, the driver runs a red light before finally coming to a halt in a parking spot on Otis Street, between the federal courthouse and the RBC Bank. Inside the vehicle … Read more
I was surprised to see the LAAFF festival on the front cover of the Mountain Xpress [“Need a LAAF?” Sept.1] this week. Not that I don't thoroughly enjoy that annual festival. It's just that the week before was Goombay, which got a quarter page on page 67 [“Back on the Block,” Aug. 25 Xpress] with … Read more
I truly hope the city decides not to renew the contract with First Transit. [I have been] corresponding [via e-mail] with [Asheville] Council member Gordon Smith [about transit issues]; he says the city can't make the buses run on the Monday following Easter as the city can't directly negotiate with labor unions. That Monday [is] … Read more
I just wanted the community to know that on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 29, I was meeting with friends at [a local bar] and was followed out to my car by a man whom I did not know. As I walked to my car he kept asking me what I was doing and where … Read more
My friend … saw a bear crossing Fairview Road on her way home from work the other day. [Another friend] showed me a picture of the coyote she saw on the commuter part of the [Blue Ridge] Parkway last week; [another] posted pictures on Facebook of bears in her Town Mountain driveway. The neat thing … Read more
I had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Heath Shuler (Democrat, 11th District) at a military veteran’s luncheon on Aug. 26. I asked why he doesn’t have face-to-face town hall meetings. He replied, “I am not going to waste my time having a bunch of people yelling at me at town hall meetings!” I asked … Read more
Once again, Rep. Shuler [“Blue Dogs Rule?” Sept. 1 Xpress] treated us to more non-answers to important questions, all the while trumpeting his ''blue dog" bona fides. I won't even go into his positions on gay rights, hate crimes and a woman's right to choose. I think a more appropriate description for Shuler would be … Read more
It seems we take one step forward, two steps back with the economy. Am I ready to stitch my savings into my mattress? Perhaps not yet. I see a small sliver of hope, strangely enough from a candidate in the next election. My friend, Patsy Keever, is running to represent us in the N.C. House, … Read more
