Untreated mental illness is the nexus of many of the problems contributing to a perception that downtown Asheville has become less safe.
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Untreated mental illness is the nexus of many of the problems contributing to a perception that downtown Asheville has become less safe.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy has designated Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties as “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.” More than two-thirds of Americans live in a county designated as HIDTA, according to the website.
For Part 4, Watchdog reporters shadowed the first-responders on the front lines of dealing with the recent rise in homelessness, substance abuse and addiction, and untreated mental health issues.
Part 3 of Asheville Watchdog’s series, “Down Town,” examines the reality of the recent deterioration of Asheville’s central business district.
Today, Asheville Watchdog continues its series Down Town, with an examination of the impact of a diminished police force especially downtown, where — as The Watchdog reported in Part 1 — merchants and residents have complained of increased break-ins and shoplifting, of human waste and needles in doorways, and of aggressive panhandlers.
Today, Asheville Watchdog begins Down Town, a series that examines crime and the effects of a diminished police force; the consequences of increased homelessness and devastating drug addictions; the impact on tourism; the response by Asheville’s leaders; and the approaches used successfully in other cities.
Wanda Greene was pulling down $250,000 a year and had just retired in July 2017, about to collect $15,000 a month in pension payouts for the rest of her life. And then it all came crashing down.
The Asheville City Council officially ended its regularly scheduled, private “check-in” meetings Tuesday, a long-awaited step that advocates say will bring more transparency to city government.
Council to vote on switch to public ‘work sessions’ Tuesday, Feb. 14.
Local advocates say they are skeptical that yet another study will make a difference.
Asheville’s history includes a litany of water failures and outages, ranging from a week-long outage caused by a hurricane in 2004 to more than 720 “boil water advisories” in various parts of the city between 2017 and 2021, usually caused by water line breaks or other troubles.
North Carolina can support as many as nine Las Vegas-style casinos with gambling throughout the state, including one in the Asheville area, according to a report commissioned by the General Assembly.
For at least five years, Asheville City Council members have debated and grappled with some of the most pressing issues facing Asheville in regularly scheduled private meetings with city staff — meetings that are outside of public view.
Asheville’s water may be restored, but the spigot of information from city officials is still clogged.
The declines are the worst of the 16 public universities in the UNC system, an Asheville Watchdog analysis finds.
Released nearly 5 years ahead of schedule, the former Buncombe County manager readies for another legal fight.
The remains of three bears found in Woodfin — possibly a mother and two cubs — highlight a serious problem with poaching in the mountains, a bear advocacy group says. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission said the case may be the result of poaching, but its investigation is ongoing.
Michelle Weitzman, the only trustee to speak publicly about employee complaints of mistreatment at the Asheville Art Museum, was removed from the museum’s board Nov. 15.
The nonprofit museum has collected millions of dollars in donations, admissions, grants, and memberships, and includes among its supporters Buncombe County and the City of Asheville, courtesy of the taxpayers. In charge of it all is a board of trustees with full authority over the museum’s affairs, and one that operates out of public view, often yielding to the will of its long-time executive director, Pamela Myers.
Asheville Watchdog contributor John Boyle explains his decision to join the nonprofit news startup after 27 years with Asheville’s daily newspaper.
“Crime is a serious issue and one that I hear about as a top concern for our community,” said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. “Is our community unsafe as the picture is painted by Fox News? No, absolutely not.”