I was drawn to Asheville by hopes for happiness, a supportive community and education. I found low pay and few opportunities before I was forced to leave Above: Downtown Asheville at night, photo by Bill Rhodes This is the latest in our Leaving Asheville series, featuring the stories and perspectives

As Asheville struggles with low wages and bad working conditions, thoughts on what might have to change for it become a union city Above: Johaunna Cromer and her son Tejuan at the recent HKonJ march in Raleigh. Cromer, a local fast-food worker, has joined with the labor advocacy group Raise

As a major land battle is delayed, Council turns its attention to local organizing, a contentious consent agenda and several reports Above: Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by Max Cooper. Asheville City Council’s Feb. 10 meeting began with the first appearance in the halls of city government of a new

The State of Black Asheville, Dwight Mullen and the call for consequences for this city’s institutions — and their failures Above: UNCA professor Dwight Mullen, speaking at a Martin Luther King Day event at Kenilworth Presbyterian. Photo by Max Cooper “It would be considered a state of emergency if you

It’s not just Asheville. In a region where abject poverty and mansions rub shoulders, about 10,000 households rely on housing assistance to survive Above: the numbers of public housing units and housing vouchers in each county in WNC. Chart courtesy of Carolina Public Press As many of our readers know,

Concerns, fears, mutual applause and setting the stage  for the biggest political fight Asheville’s seen in a long time, all at this year’s Council retreat Above: Council members’ notes, on the banquet room wall, about what accomplishments they’re proud of. This past Friday, Asheville City Council, several ranks of city

Behind a very general agenda, two meals and lots of debate over wording, Asheville’s leaders are about make some big decisions for the year Above: City hall by moonlight. Photo by Max Cooper. It’s not on the main page of the city’s website. Or their calendar of meetings (though the agenda

About 140 city employees make less than a living wage. More on that issue, and how Council’s now considering a raise Above: the job description for a U.S. Cellular Center worker in “specialized unskilled work.” The job, like many others at the center, pays below a living wage. Just over

Asheville’s mayor talks about her first year in office, controversies, a defense of the city’s actions, turf battles and more Above: Mayor Esther Manheimer, photo by Max Cooper In 2013 Esther Manheimer, after a term on Asheville City Council, won the mayor’s seat decisively. But her first year in office

Exiled from City Hall due to a burst pipe Asheville City Council opposes a development, prepares to duel over a powerful board and gets an earful Above: anti-fracking and Keystone XL pipeline protesters outside the U.S. Cellular Center, Asheville City Council’s temporary location due to a burst pipe in City Hall.