By the time the director, assistant director and two other staffers in Asheville's Human Resources Department wound up in handcuffs March 30, it could hardly have been a surprise. Searching for answers:After suspicious claims to the city's flexible-spending benefits program were reported, police searched benefit analyst Laura Master's bank account. News of an investigation […]
Author: David Forbes
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APD officer sues city, supervisor, charges sexual discrimination
[Editor's note: This story contains detailed allegations couched in sexually explicit language.] Violating its mission?:A medal with the mission statement of the APD. An officer has sued the city and her supervisor, alleging that, contrary to department policies, extensive sexual discrimination and harassment went unpunished. Special to the Mountain Xpress Alleging that city officials ignored […]
What are your questions for Goforth and Keever?
On Friday, I’ll sit down for interviews with Democratic Rep. Bruce Goforth and longtime local political figure Patsy Keever, who’s challenging him in the upcoming primary election. In both cases, there’s plenty to discuss, but Xpress readers, I want to invite your input: What questions would you like to see asked of these candidates?
The bus doesn’t run on Monday
The Asheville Transit System won’t run this coming Monday, April 5, as Easter Monday is “one of 8 days throughout the calendar year that Asheville Transit does not operate,” according to an announcement from the city.
Time for highly paid city staff to take a cut?
With Asheville in a budget crunch, a lot of potential items are on the chopping block. However, the well-compensated upper-echelon staff that crafted the menu of cuts that City Council’s choosing from left out one item worthy of serious discussion: the upper echelons of city staff taking a pay cut.
APD Officer sues city and supervisor for sex discrimination ***updated Fri. 11 a.m.***
Alleging that city officials ignored and retaliated against her complaints of repeated sexual discrimination, Asheville Police Department Officer Cherie Byrd is suing the city and her supervisor in federal court. The city is staying silent on the lawsuit, for now.
Asheville unemployment rate spikes to over 10 percent
From December through January, the Asheville area lost 3,800 jobs, and the unemployment rate rose to 10.1 percent, the highest rise in North Carolina during that time, according to statistics from the state’s Employment Security Commission.
Asheville City Council: Scale model
City still facing massive budget shortfall Shriner appointment survives challenge URTV funding request trimmed After months of controversy, Asheville City Council gave The Larchmont— 60 densely packed affordable-housing units off Merrimon Avenue — a unanimous go-ahead. In favor: North Asheville resident Mike Lewis speaks in favor of the controversial Larchmont project. In a nearly two-hour […]
Richardson new Human Resources head
Amid a continuing investigation of alleged fraud, Assistant City Manager Jeff Richardson is temporarily taking over as human resources director. Richardson will audit the flexible-spending program for city employees monthly until a third-party administrator can be hired. "In an effort to provide additional oversight and supervision of the Human Resources Department, Assistant City Manager Jeff […]
Shuler turns thumbs down on health-care legislation
On March 21, Rep. Heath Shuler bucked his own party in voting against sweeping health-care legislation that passed the House of Representatives 219-212. Interception: On March 21, Rep. Heath Shuler broke ranks with the Democratic Party to vote against sweeping health-care legislation. Shuler joined 35 other House Democrats, including two from North Carolina, in opposing […]
Hard times come again: how are you dealing with them?
If you’re feeling the hit of the hard economic situation, Xpress wants to hear from you.
Chad Nesbitt to head Buncombe GOP ***updated 2 p.m. Sunday with video***
Chad Nesbitt, a longtime conservative activist and one of the founders of the controversial Carolina Stompers group, will now head the Buncombe County Republican party, after winning the chair’s seat at today’s convention.
Will Shuler suffer? (Probably not)
When Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler bucked his party and voted against sweeping health care legislation Sunday night, he certainly set off a backlash. But will anything come of it?
Asheville City Council passes Larchmont Project, “Google moment” ***updated 6 p.m.***
City Council passed unanimously the Larchmont project, approved a resolution in support of holding a “Google moment,” and heard comments from staff about strategies for dealing with the budget shortfall.
Back from the brink
Buncombe County Democrat Martin Nesbitt, the North Carolina Senate's recently named majority leader, is serving his third term in that body after 11 in the state House. On March 12, Nesbitt was the guest speaker at the Council of Independent Business Owners' monthly breakfast meeting, where he gave his assessment of the state's financial situation, […]
Cost/benefit analysis
The Asheville Police Department is continuing to investigate allegations of fraud in the city's Human Resources Department. According to three search warrants made public March 16, some city employees filed bogus reimbursement requests for items they never purchased, or received reimbursement far beyond the actual cost and/or in excess of the legal annual limit for […]
Asheville’s chief financial officer resigns
Ben Durant, Asheville's chief financial officer, is resigning to take a job at Elizabeth City State University, the city announced March 19. The change means Asheville must now conduct a nationwide search for a new budget point person even as it faces a projected $3 million to $5 million deficit in the next fiscal year. […]
The Green Scene: Not just numbers
In a dramatic March 18 press conference, residents living near the contaminated former CTS of Asheville site leveled charges of incompetence at local, state and federal officials whom they say later tried to cover up their mistakes. "No is not an option:" Shannon Robinson, who lives near the contaminated former CTS of Asheville site and […]
Assistant city manager to head HR department in midst of fraud investigation
In the midst of an ongoing investigation into possible fraud in the the city of Asheville’s flexible-spending program, Assistant City Manager Jeff Richardson is taking over the Human Resources Department, and will audit the program monthly until it can find a third-party administrator.
Asheville City Council preview: Larchmont and URTV
At its meeting tomorrow, Asheville City Council is set to vote on the controversial Larchmont affordable-housing development and on renewing URTV’s agreement for one year. The city’s budget woes are (again) another topic that Council will tackle.
Shuler explains vote against health care legislation
In a lengthy statement issued today, Rep. Heath Shuler explains why he cast his vote against the sweeping health-care reform legislation passed last night.