The future of Asheville’s downtown is in the balance. It’s time to have a much broader discussion about what that future should look like Above: downtown Asheville by night. Photo by Max Cooper Downtown Asheville never really leaves the news. It’s not just the seat of government or the location

Despite misinformation and outright lies, you have a legal right to talk about how much you’re paid. Given Asheville’s catastrophically low wages, it’s time for this culture of silence to end Above: Tupelo Honey’s downtown location. Last year, following wage cuts for support staff at the booming chain, workers launched

During the Waking Life protests, activists mobilized to fight misogyny and rape culture in our city. Here’s an inside look at what happened, and some important lessons Above: Protesters outside the closed Waking Life coffee shop in September. Photo by Max Cooper. In September, protests and organized action followed news of

For too long the city has neglected the Walton Street park and pool, a place of history and community. It’s time to change that Three months ago, the Southside Community Advisory Board started a petition to save the Walton Street Park/Pool in an effort to galvanize not just the Southside

Behind the results of election night upsets, the most closely-fought race Asheville’s seen in many years and the beginning of an era of conflict Above: Campaign signs outside the Board of Elections during early voting. Well, that was interesting. In a few hours last night, local electoral norms shattered and

Campaign season sees a profusion of forums for Asheville City Council candidates and the public. A local photographer gives a look at one forum in her area, and what the candidates said Above: Five Asheville City Council candidates — Rich Lee, Lindsey Simerly, Julie Mayfield, Keith Young and Brian Haynes

For too many in Asheville, a single box on a job application bars them from a shot at a future. But there’s a better way, and a growing local movement to change that Above: A logo for the national Fair Chance — Ban the Box campaign. Three years ago, canvassing

For three decades, plans for the Interstate 26 expansion have been driven by dangerous, outdated ideas that will hurt our city. The sky isn’t falling, and it’s time to call the state out Above: This postcard of the Smokey Park Bridge from the 1960s shows sidewalks on both sides of the

A bill passed by the state legislature would harm immigrants and their families and take the state in a hateful direction. Locals should encourage the governor to veto this legislation Above: A small group of locals rally Oct. 5 to encourage a veto of HB 318. Photo from COLA Earlier this

The justified Waking Life response shows the need to tackle our city’s deep issues with misogyny and rape culture. The hasty push to forgive and forget is a dangerous one Above: Protesters outside the closed Waking Life coffee shop last week, rallying against predatory misogyny from owners Jared Rutledge and Jacob