Routs, truces, clashing views and more as Council closes out its year with the latest chapter in the development wars Above: the future sites of the River Mill Lofts and Hazel Mill Roads projects, on the city’s development maps. Historically, few things pack Asheville City Council chambers like fights over

While law enforcement sees local turmoil and national scrutiny, Asheville’s police advisory board gives staff an earful about the need for public oversight Above: Several members of the Citizens Police Advisory Board gather with city staff around tables in a training room for their Dec. 2 meeting. Clockwise from top:

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

Strategic goals! Best practices! Benchmarks! Here’s a guide to that jargon city officials are so fond of, what it means and why it matters Above: City Hall at night. Photo by Max Cooper If you’ve attended an Asheville City Council meeting, pored over one of the city’s many, many master

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

As APD Chief Anderson declares his retirement amid controversy, the city faces a police department with a fraught history and an uncertain future Above: APD Chief William Anderson, photo by Max Cooper. In the hallowed tradition of big government news announcements, this one came after the clock turned over to

Asheville City Council dishes out housing grants, passes rezonings, takes criticism and goes behind closed doors in a short meeting Above: A map of a proposed subdivision on South Charlotte Street, bordering downtown, from city documents. Compared to the multi-controversy cavalcade that was the last meeting of Asheville City Council,

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

As another piece of public space might be named after a private organization, Ashevillians are again set to debate exactly who gets to name what in our changing city Above: a rendering of the area in front of the Asheville Art Museum, which might be renamed “SECU plaza” in return

Amid ongoing public controversy and internal divisions, an in-depth look at city government’s plan to overhaul the Asheville Police Department Recent weeks have seen a contentious struggle over the leadership of the Asheville Police Department, with a petition by 44 officers calling for four major concerns to be addressed and