At their best, special interests raise our awareness and get things done. Few, on the right or the left, are able to resist the next step in their natural evolution — transition to a selfish interest trumping the common interests. It thus remains that we will always need eyes, ears, hearts, minds and hands willing to search out deeper truths.
Historically, the Mountain Xpress has been one of the few media outlets in our community willing to take on the risks of investigative reporting. That priority seems to have faded of late, but your Aug. 7 food feature, “Ruffled Feathers,” helps reaffirm the contract.
Congratulations to Emily Patrick and any other staff members who may have contributed. Regardless of one’s enthusiasm for or against Chick-fil-A, this detailed effort to call out the players, politics and process in this special-interest indulgence merits praise.
We need more of such in Asheville, not less. There is a darkness here that remains vulnerable to only one kind of light — the light of day provided by a print media outlet willing to dog the facts.
Thanks for this most recent foray in that direction. [Carl Mumpower is a former member of Asheville City Council.]
— Carl Mumpower
Asheville
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