As ongoing protests raise the issue of racial injustice and police violence, dismantling racism here will take a harder look within Above: Protesters gather in downtown Asheville after a grand jury refused to indict an NYPC officer for the killing of Eric Garner. Photo by Max Cooper. Cities across the

In the controversy over Chief Anderson’s departure, it’s easy to forget the improvements of recent years, changes that must continue Above: the cover of the Asheville Police Department’s strategic plan, unveiled this summer During the discussion about the current turmoil and fraught history of the Asheville Police Department, most of

Asheville’s diverse — if you’re white and cisgender. For trans people and many, many others, it’s a far harsher place Above: the Transgender Pride Flag. It may be awhile before this one hangs on City Hall. Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, an international day to remember those killed due

Asheville’s workers are badly underpaid. Local government could change that by requiring businesses to pay a living wage. Will they? Above: a map from the National Low Income Housing Coalition showing how many hours working for the current $7.25 minimum wage are required to afford an average apartment across the

We live in a flawed system with imperfect candidates. But exercising the right to vote is now more important than ever Above: locals march to the West Asheville Library’s early voting site to cast their ballots as part of the Oct. 29 Roll to the Polls event. The roots of American

From the Atlantic to Salon, national media and urbanists celebrate Asheville as an example — and draw all the wrong lessons Above: Fireworks over downtown Asheville. Photo by Bill Rhodes. Periodically, the national media will rediscover Asheville. Most commonly this consists in the jet set finding out that we have good

A student who went to last month’s climate march with the Asheville contingent shares their thoughts about what happened and why it matters. Above: Marchers at the Sept. 21 People’s Climate March, which included a sizable Asheville contingent. Photo by Khaetlyn Grindell, used with permission. We were 400,000 strong, marching

I came north when I was 18, seeking opportunity and fleeing violence. Now the lack of a piece of plastic poses a major obstacle to me living my life Above: sample licenses from the North Carolina DMV for residents qualifying under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. I

A frank, honest discussion about the state of our city, following the mayor’s Oct. 1 “TED talk” presentation on where Asheville’s going. Above: skyline of downtown looking toward the Flat Iron building, photo by Max Cooper Concluding thoughts, Oct. 5: I’m awed. Since the original post went up Tuesday, we’ve

The twisting tale of how the state legislature sold out our mountains for private gain, why it matters, and what you can do about it Above: a map of potential fracking areas in N.C., map courtesy of WNC Frack Free “We promised the people of North Carolina we were not