Asheville City Council mulls affordable housing solutions, forms ‘innovation districts’ in three neighborhoods and continues its long contemplation of graffiti Above: the borders for the South Slope “innovation district” Asheville City Council passed Oct. 14 Some of the biggest news at Asheville City Council’s Oct. 14 meeting happened before the

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

In a packed three hours, Asheville City Council hits issues including burying power lines, housing, graffiti and the surveillance of protesters Above: power lines over a stretch of grass behind the Aloft Hotel and city parking deck at 51 Biltmore Avenue. The city will pay $250,000 to bury the lines so

With new restrictions possible, Asheville’s buskers become the latest flashpoint in the debate over the future of downtown and its culture. Above: The Stillwater Hobos performing in a still from Erin Derham’s documentary Buskin Blues. The movie delves into Asheville’s busking culture at a time when the city’s considering changing its

Every city has illusions about its culture. Here’s a list of Asheville’s, because it’s time we started facing our myths Above: Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Conjuror,” with a crowd getting their pockets picked while they watch an illusionist perform. Asheville’s got its own magic, a spell it casts that brings people

A local rally protests police brutality, shows support for Ferguson residents and pushes for a ‘Mike Brown Law’ requiring cops to wear cameras. Above: Shanita Jackson, one of the organizers of the rally against police brutality, holds a sign while surrounded by other protesters. Photo by Basil Soper. Early Sunday

Records requests shine more light on the military surplus‚ from automatic weapons to armored cars, in the hands of local law enforcement. Above: An armored car owned by the Asheville Police Department, photographed in 2008. Photo © Jason Sandford, used with permission. A week ago, I highlighted the Blade’s records requests for

The annual topless “rally” is an overhyped farce. But the reaction from government and business leaders is far, far worse. Above: One of the topless rally attendees — and onlookers — at the 2011 event. Photo by Max Cooper. It’s that time again. Every year (for the past three), the

Next Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Asheville Blade will cover the next meeting of our local city council. Here’s an interesting — and often hilarious — account Max Cooper, who photographed the last meeting for the Blade, wrote about photographing our local government meetings. I covered public meetings once or twice

A look at the origins, costs and clashing views on city government’s $300,000 program to remove graffiti and tagging throughout Asheville Above: Before and after shots of graffiti painted over on a building in the River Arts District. Photo by Zen Sutherland. 123 Graffiti Free is its name. Launched July