Over its two-day retreat, Asheville City Council set some goals, split on affordable housing, clashed with staff and set the stage for some interesting times ahead Above: the goals of Council members and staff during part of their annual retreat Every year, Asheville City Council has a retreat. Despite the

Transit comes under major scrutiny as activists push for an end to evening hour cuts, the box is banned, questions are raised and, yes, another hotel comes before Council Above: Asheville City Council member Keith Young. File photo by Max Cooper. Welcome back, readers. After weathering the aftermath of a

A divided Council decides on a ‘McKibbon standard’ for new hotels, approving an overhaul of one of downtown’s most notorious buildings Above: Council member Gordon Smith. File photo by Max Cooper. After the hibernation of the holidays, city politics sprang back to life again on Jan. 12 as Asheville City Council

Ashevillians speak out on what what they’re willing to take at Council’s last meeting of the year, and a time of conflict draws closer Above: Asheville City Council member Julie Mayfield. File photo by Max Cooper. When the new Asheville City Council first met on Dec. 1, it was a

Three new Council members are sworn in, a vice mayor is chosen, unity is proclaimed and the mayor’s father leads a sing-along Above: the new Council, seated on the dais. From left: Brian Haynes, Gordon Smith, Vice mayor Gwen Wisler, Mayor Esther Manheimer, Cecil Bothwell, Julie Mayfield and Keith Young.

With a new Council on the way, here’s a look at Asheville’s government, what it does and how you can change it Above: City Hall by night, photo by Max Cooper. Today three new Asheville City Council members — Keith Young, Brian Haynes and Julie Mayfield — will be sworn

AirBnB and its ilk (some of them at least) are back before Council as it tries to nail down rules for homestays and three members have their final meeting Above: Vice Mayor Marc Hunt. File photo by Max Cooper. When Asheville City Council members took their place on the dais

A fight over development in Shiloh, a new pact with the chamber and new terms for a major Block project in a packed Council meeting Above: Council member Gordon Smith. File photo by Max Cooper. Welcome back, readers. My apologies for the delay. The venerable, held-together-with-tape charger for our laptop

In the weeks between two citywide elections, local government still continued on with some important steps. Here’s what happened over at City Council Above: Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by Max Cooper. Asheville elections are interesting beasts. There’s a long primary season, with candidates usually declaring in the first half

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