Follow live Twitter coverage of the April 26 Asheville City Council meeting here.
Author: David Forbes
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Breaking down barriers
The YWCA's Stand Against Racism didn’t get its start here, but the Asheville edition is in the national spotlight this year. The YW’s Trenton, N.J., chapter, unveiled the first Stand — a series of community events highlighting cultural diversity and the continuing struggle against racism — in 2007; the concept went nationwide last year. And […]
Bothwell now running against Shuler as a Democrat
After initially declaring he would run against Rep. Heath Shuler as an independent candidate, Asheville City Council member Cecil Bothwell has again changed course. Campaign materials released on his website yesterday revealed he will run against Shuler in the Democratic primary, and an announcement this morning made it official.
Asheville City Council preview: Budgetary recycling
At the April 26 Asheville City Council meeting, City Manager Gary Jackson will present staff’s recommended budget, with its aim of preserving the city’s current services. At a pre-meeting work session, Council will also review possible changes to the city’s recycling program.
Polishing the crystal ball
Don’t worry about inflation or oil spikes: The economy is recovering, which will accelerate as the housing market picks back up, but expect unemployment to decline slowly. That was the word from economists David Berson and James Smith at the April 21 Economic Crystal Ball seminar at UNCA.
Photo by Jonathan Welch
LIVE: Coverage of the Economic Crystal Ball Seminar
Tonight, two economists will lay out their forecasts for the coming year at the annual Crystal Ball Seminar at UNCA. Follow live Twitter coverage here.
We were robbed
Asheville City Council April 12, 2011, meeting Commercial water customers face major rate hike Council calls for URTV equipment audit The item wasn't on the printed agenda, but toward the end of the Asheville City Council's April 12 meeting, Council members approved paying Blueline Systems and Services $175,000 to oversee a full audit of the […]
Amid controversy, APD Chief Bill Hogan announces retirement
On April 18, Asheville Police Department Chief Bill Hogan has announced his retirement, effective May 13. The step comes amid public criticism over his handling of an investigation into missing evidence and the settlement of a sexual harassment lawsuit involving a still-employed APD officer.
Police officer in center of sexual harassment case still employed by APD
Asheville Police Department Officer Eric Lauffer, whose explicit text messages to his then-subordinate, Officer Cherie Byrd, were at the center of a sexual harassment lawsuit that the city settled this week for $52,100, is still employed by the department.
Photo by Jonathan Welch
DA blasts APD evidence room handling, Council approves $175,000 audit
It was a tense scene last night during the Asheville City Council meeting as District Attorney Ron Moore criticized the leadership of the Asheville Police Department for the handling of its evidence room. APD Chief Bill Hogan, meanwhile, said the problems were due to one individual who “betrayed the trust.” Council approved $175,000 to conduct a full audit.
Carney replaces Carter
Delegates to the Buncombe County Democratic Party’s annual convention elected Emmet Carney their new chair on April 9, marking a quick and peaceful end to a race that had shifted rapidly in recent weeks. Several candidates had thrown their hats into the ring and then removed them, including Asheville City Council member Cecil Bothwell, former […]
Missing in action
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the disappearance of 397 tablets of oxycodone, a prescription pain medication, from the Asheville Police Department’s property room. The APD estimated the missing tablets’ street value at $20,000. Longtime evidence-and-property manager Lee Smith resigned Feb. 18 after 21 years with the department. He was placed under investigative suspension […]
City settles APD sexual harassment lawsuit
The city of Asheville will settle a lawsuit from former Asheville Police Department Officer Cherie Byrd alleging that her superior, then-Sgt. Eric Lauffer, sent her sexually explicit text messages and phone calls. The city will pay Byrd $48,000 and reimburse her $4,100 in mediation fees.
LIVE: Asheville City Council: For a fee
Some substantial revisions to the city’s fees are front and center at the April 12 Asheville City Council meeting. A change to water rates would raise costs for business and large customers while leaving the residential rates unchanged.
115 items missing from APD evidence room
A partial audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room, completed last Friday and released by the District Attorney’s Office, reveals 115 missing items, including guns, drugs and money. The State Bureau of Investigation has sealed the evidence room, and are pursuing an investigation and full audit.
Carney elected Buncombe Democratic Chair
By acclamation, the assembled delegates of the Buncombe County Democratic Party elected Emmet Carney (pictured at right with outgoing chair Charles Carter) their new chair at the annual convention this morning.
Photo by Jerry Nelson
DA delays trials as APD evidence room investigation continues
District Attorney Ron Moore will hold in abeyance APD felony cases while the State Bureau of Investigation looks into missing evidence in the APD property room. Meanwhile, Chief Bill Hogan asserts that the APD was following proper procedure in an earlier evidence audit, and calls the problems “regrettable.”
SBI seals APD evidence room, investigating missing drugs ***UPDATED 2:13 p.m. Thursday***
The State Bureau of Investigation has sealed, and is investigating, the Asheville Police Department property room due to 397 missing tablets of Oxycodone. The SBI claims the investigation was requested by the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, while the APD claims the investigation began internally. Records obtained by Xpress reveal that the APD’s longtime evidence manager was placed under investigative suspension before his resignation earlier this year, though an APD official says “it’s difficult to speculate” if that’s related to the investigation.
Asheville Board of Realtors faces “political advocacy” dues increase
The National Association of Realtors wants a $40 dues increase, noting that last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United offers new opportunities “to maintain and grow our political power in this new landscape.” That ruling opened the door to increased corporate spending for elections at all levels, including local ones. The Asheville Board of Realtors is asking its members to share their opinions on the dues increase.
The road more traveled
Asheville City Council March 29, 2011 meeting Residents call for more sidewalks Lack of population growth impacts city’s budget Even though Asheville City Council members occupied a lofty position for their March 29 community meeting — onstage in the T.C. Roberson High School theater — the gathering had a downright intimate feel. About 15 residents […]
Head to head
Tight budgets have made public officials’ salaries a sensitive issue. When the news broke in February that Buncombe County’s commissioners ranked among the highest-paid in the state, they unanimously voted themselves a pay cut. And an analysis by UNC's School of Government found that long-running Register of Deeds Otto DeBruhl (now retired) and his unusually […]