A post by Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith on the Scrutiny Hooligans political blog claims Occupy Asheville demonstrators have agreed to camp under the Lexington Avenue overpass, pending a more permanent agreement from the city. Multiple tweets from demonstrators call the agreement "tentative."
From the Scrutiny Hooligans blog:
Representatives of Occupy Asheville (OA) met with senior staff from the City of Asheville today. CoA offered three options to OA for encampment. Tonight, according to their FB page, OA reached consensus. They will soon be based on N. Lexington Avenue at the I-240 overpass where the mural is located. There is power and water available there, and it is within the Central Business District. Thanks to everyone involved for reaching a solution. I understand that Asheville is the first city in America to find a legal place for an Occupy group.
There will be a $25 permit fee that the group intends to pay in pennies.
You can find out more about the group at their website.
What do you think of it?Read the full article
From the Scrutiny Hooligans blog:
Representatives of Occupy Asheville (OA) met with senior staff from the City of Asheville today. CoA offered three options to OA for encampment. Tonight, according to their FB page, OA reached consensus. They will soon be based on N. Lexington Avenue at the I-240 overpass where the mural is located. There is power and water available there, and it is within the Central Business District. Thanks to everyone involved for reaching a solution. I understand that Asheville is the first city in America to find a legal place for an Occupy group.
There will be a $25 permit fee that the group intends to pay in pennies.
You can find out more about the group at their website.
What do you think of it?Read the full article
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Lexington Avenue under I-240.. Wait. What?? They're not supposed to be protesting poor people doing community artwork. Isn't this protest about the greedy bastards ruining our country? They should not accept this location. They should be on the plaza in front of the BB&T building. Or on the lawn of Bank Of America. Or Wells Fargo. People, don't accept this move. This is a ridiculous idea, completely contrary to the point I thought you were trying to make.
By Jeff
10/14/2011
Isn't the whole point of a protest to be somewhere where you are breaking the law so your cause will be noticed ....
and how funny is it that "Gordy" is proud that AVL is the first City in America to "find a legal place" for its' protestors .... yeah. a legal place that is (for the most part) out of the way and out of sight .... that the OA folks are agreeable to this amazes me.
By LOKEL
10/14/2011
It's not THAT out of the way being on two major roads into the Downtown area..... Plus it has some nice art work, water availability...and is near enough to Moog, so MoogFest attendees will see the OA people...including the out of town news people, like NYT and probably Rolling Stone. I think it's a good compromise.
By D. Dial
10/14/2011
Umm, Jeff, the protest group can't take over the lawn at Bank of America or the Wells Fargo tract if that is private property. The group, could, of course, rent their own private property someplace and camp out. In the meantime, sounds to me like the city of Asheville bent over backwards to change the rules and allow Occupy Asheville to have access to the area beneath the I-240 bridge. Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me.
By AshevilleNCNative
10/15/2011
Occupy Asheville is trying to be an example to other Cities how the people can exercise their 1st Amendment rights while working with officials to come to a solution. We have agreed to act in solidarity with NYC Occupy Wall ST. That means we will probably camp all winter.
Lexington Ave has it's benefits like shelter from rain, snow, and wind. There is running water and electric.
True we are over taking turf that is home to drugs, alcohol, and prostitution. But then Jesus walked with the lepers too.
Invitation to all come check out Peace Camp on Lexington Ave.
By glolady
10/17/2011