Asheville’s City Attorney has consistently taken stances against basic government transparency. It’s time for Council, and the people, to demand better of a major public servant Above: Asheville City Attorney Robin Currin. File photo by Max Cooper. Recent events in Asheville have turned an eye, for a moment, towards an

Council condemns HB2 after some last-minute changes, sketches out the coming budget and gives the go-ahead for a major greenway, over some opposition. Also: bear selfies. Above: Anti-HB2 protesters move onto the space near the Vance Monument after a smaller, pro-HB2 demonstration leaves on April 2. Photo by Max Cooper.

Council gets a first look at the budget, hikes (some) fees, checks up on short-term rentals and tries to take a swing at (eventually) solving West Asheville’s parking crunch Above: Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith. File photo by Max Cooper. By the time Asheville City Council settled in for

The sweeping effects of HB2, the local response and a look at how Asheville and North Carolina got to this point Above: Opponents of HB2 gather on March 24 to express their opposition to the bill. Photos by Bill Rhodes. It was a windy, grey afternoon last Thursday when 100 people

Body cameras, public housing, the fate of a public square and no action on LGBT protections as Council swings back from the end of winter Above: Mayor Esther Manheimer. File photo by Max Cooper. February was an unusually light month for Asheville City Council. So many items from what would

After Charlotte passes extensive LGBT protections, it’s a matter of question if Asheville City Council will do the same in the near future Above: A pride flag flies from City Hall in 2014 after a federal court struck down the state’s ban on equal marriage. Photo by Max Cooper. On Monday

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

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

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