Driven by job gains in the hospitality and leisure fields, unemployment in the Asheville metro area declined again in April, from 9.4 percent to 8.4 percent, according to the state Employment Security Commission.
Author: David Forbes
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Asheville City Council preview: Going public
On the agenda for tomorrow’s Asheville City Council meeting: a proposal to back publicly financed elections, tinkering with development rules and a plethora of reports.
Social media comes to the city (kind of)
Kudos to the city of Asheville for inviting “social media experts” for Wednesday’s roundtable discussion of its new media initiatives. But the city’s approach feels too old-school and limited.
Immigration, budget hot topics at CIBO breakfast
City Council member Cecil Bothwell defended his “Sanctuary City” immigration proposal while city and county officials explained their respective budgets at a Council of Independent Business Owners breakfast this morning. A compilation of live tweets.
Without more funds, URTV will close in September ***Updated Thurs. 11:30 a.m.***
Unless additional funding is received, public-access channel URTV — now known as the WNC Media Center — will cease operation in September of this year, according to a notice sent last week to the city of Asheville and Buncombe County. Both city and county officials claim that URTV is receiving funding as it always has.
Shuler bucks his party — again
Rep. Heath Shuler’s vote against repealing the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” law is the latest in a line of hot-button issues where he’s split with the Democratic Party. If the results of the recent primary challenge is any indication, that approach is costing him support in his party.
Asheville City Council: Name of the game
Asheville City Council May 25 meeting City backs off on festival fees Normac plant exempted from annexation Electronic gaming has a contentious history, both in Buncombe County and statewide. And though video-poker machines are prohibited, a new type of "sweepstakes" machine has taken advantage of a loophole in the law (included, in part, to accommodate […]
Your money or your park
Over the coming year, the city of Asheville wants the Pack Square Conservancy to repay about $2 million the nonprofit owes the city, according to a May 14 letter from City Attorney Bob Oast. Until then, the city "cannot agree to allow the conservancy to operate or manage the park to any substantial degree." The […]
Letter from City Attorney to Pack Conservancy over money owed
In this letter from City Attorney Bob Oast to Pack Conservancy Chair Guy Clerici, Oast writes that the Conservancy must work out a plan to pay about $2 million it owes the city of Asheville before it can take over management of the Pack Square Park. City_Pack.pdf
Rep. Shuler votes against “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal
Late last week Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler voted against repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, asserting that he was honoring the requests of military leaders. Despite his opposition, the measure passed 234-194.
Watch out for flash flooding (watch ends midnight Monday)
The National Weather Service has issued a a flash flood watch for several counties in the Asheville area until midnight tonight, warning that widespread showers, heavy rains and thunderstorms could pose a danger.
Police investigating art gallery robbery
The Asheville Police Department is looking for tips in the May 22 robbery of Black Bird Frames on Merrimon Avenue. Two paintings were stolen, including “Two Red Maples” by Jerry Cram.
City to Conservancy: Work out debt if you want to manage the park ***UPDATED Wednesday 12:30 p.m.***
A letter from City Attorney Bob Oast to the Pack Square Conservancy reveals that the city of Asheville wants the Conservancy to repay over the next year approximately $2 million that the city is owed. Until then, the city “cannot agree to allow the Conservancy to operate or manage the park to any substantial degree.” The city also wants an independent financial audit of the Conservancy.
Asheville City Council: Give and take
"As we enter the third year of what has become the country's worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, it is fair to say that local governments are implementing unprecedented changes to cope with the financial crisis that represent a different way of doing business." Taking the hit: Police officers at last year's Bele Chere. […]
Strapped
The Grove Arcade, one of downtown Asheville's most distinctive landmarks, can't make the payments on its debt to the city. After acquiring the historic structure from the federal government in 1997, Asheville signed a 198-year lease with the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation, which manages the property. In the grove: The interior of the Grove […]
The Green Scene: Feds ineffective on Mills Gap Road contamination
The Environmental Protection Agency failed to find contamination promptly, adequately address its cleanup or communicate effectively with residents affected by air and water contamination from a former industrial plant near Asheville, according to a stinging report released last week by an independent office of the EPA. Warning: A sign near the contaminated former CTS of […]
City Council holds hearing on budget, passes new rules for gaming
A compilation of live tweets from the May 25 meeting of Asheville City Council.
Oh, Portland, losing the BeerCity poll doesn’t require losing your magnanimity
We won. After a hard-fought tie in last year’s annual BeerCity USA poll, there was little doubt about Asheville’s victory this time. At the poll’s close, Asheville had 39.9 percent of the vote, compared to 34.1 percent for rival Portland, Ore. However, that hasn’t reduced the ire of some Portlanders against our fair city.
Asheville City Council preview: Budget, annexation and gamblin’
It looks to be a long meeting tonight for Asheville City Council, as a public hearing on the much-debated budget, a vote on 12 annexations and new rules for electronic gaming are all on the agenda.
A walk about Asheville
Cycling and taking the bus are the most emphasized methods of transit during Strive Not to Drive week. But on Friday I relied solely on my preferred and ancient technique: walking.
In comes the bus
With Strive Not to Drive Week, attention has turned to Asheville’s bus system, a flashpoint of no small amount of political debate. It’s a symbol, a line item in the city budget and, for thousands, a part of everyday life.