Rep. Heath Shuler voted against the sweeping health care reform legislation that passed the House of Representatives 219-212 last night.
Author: David Forbes
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The hits just keep on coming…
It’s not been an easy week for the city of Asheville on the financial front. First, news broke of a fraud investigation into the city’s Human Resources department, then it turns out that Chief Financial Officer Ben Durant, in the middle of the city’s struggle with a looming $3 to 5 million deficit, is leaving for a post at Elizabeth City State University.
City CFO Ben Durant resigning
Asheville Chief Financial Officer Ben Durant is resigning to take a job at Elizabeth City State University, meaning the city must now conduct a nationwide search for a new budget point person while it faces a looming $3 to 5-million deficit in the next fiscal year.
CTS neighbors call for clean-up, reparations and investigation of government agencies’ behavior
At a press conference tonight, activists called for: excavating contaminated soil; bringing city water to the area; a congressional investigation; the state to investigate NCDENR’s role in cleanup; adding the original plant site to the federal Superfund list (while removing the Rice property from that list); and for compensation of the Rice and Robinson families.
Asheville City Council: New bricks for an old building
Asheville City Council March 9, 2010 Council wrestles with $5 million budget deficit Vote on transit improvements postponed Asheville's City Building is synonymous with the city itself: Designed by acclaimed architect Douglas Ellington, its octagonal "wedding cake" roof is now the city's official logo. The historic landmark (completed in 1928) is also the center of […]
Police investigating possible fraud in city government
The Asheville Police Department is investigating fraud in the city’s Human Resources Department, according to search warrants filed today. According to the warrants, some city employees filed bogus flexible spending requests and were paid for items they didn’t purchase. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Where has all the good liquor gone?
Wander down the aisles of your local ABC store these days, and a silent culling of some of the best (and best-priced) liquor has taken place.
What grassroots?
In November 2009, one in five voters decided who would lead the city of Asheville. Who’s not getting heard in city politics?
An interview with Sen. Martin Nesbitt
This morning, Sen. Martin Nesbitt of Buncombe County — recently named majority leader — talked with Xpress about clout, the Sullivan Acts and pulling North Carolina (and its cities) back from the brink of another Great Depression.
Nesbitt, Durant and Gibson talk economics at today’s CIBO meeting
Without federal stimulus funds, North Carolina “would have had no choice but to close public schools. … We would have had a Great Depression; we were that close to the brink,” said N.C. Sen. Martin Nesbitt at today’s issues meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners. And the city of Asheville’s CFO Ben Durant warned that the city’s credit will be limited for years to come, noting that the city has reduced an estimated $5 million deficit in the next fiscal year’s budget to $3 million. Warren Wilson College’s Phil Gibson joked with the sometimes hard-nosed CIBO crowd, “I know many consider us the hippie, granola-munching college, but we are a business.”
Taking up the Mumpower mantle
At Tuesday’s meeting, Asheville City Council member Bill Russell voted against accepting federal grants, annexations and additional spending. Most of these measures passed 6-1, with only he dissenting. Why does all of this seem so familiar?
Asheville City Council: City Hall renovation, a budget deficit and more
City Hall renovations! Budget deficits! Bus system reforms! Public art! Google! Planning commission controversies! All this and more, in the latest live Twitter coverage from Asheville City Council …
P&Z approves Larchmont project
The Larchmont project, a 60-unit affordable housing complex off Merrimon Avenue, cleared another hurdle on March 4, as Asheville's Planning and Zoning Commission approved the requested rezoning on a 5-1 vote. The march of Larchmont: Wyatt Stevens, attorney for Mountain Housing Opportunities' Larchmont project, makes his pitch to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. Photo […]
Keever, Goforth square off
Incumbent North Carolina state Rep. Bruce Goforth sparred with challenger Patsy Keever last week at a luncheon hosted by the Council of Independent Business Owners — facing off over their differing views on topics such as the Sullivan Acts, taxes and steep-slope development. Vying for the seat: Incumbent state Rep. Bruce Goforth listens to a […]
Asheville mobilizes to woo Google
"We have hundreds of people involved; we need thousands of people involved," Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith told Xpress minutes before he addressed about 30 people gathered on March 4 to brainstorm ways to persuade Google to install one of its proposed superfast fiber-optic networks in Asheville. "It's not our job to become what […]
Live coverage of Tuesday’s City Council meeting
Asheville City Council had a worksession and full agenda for its formal meeting Tuesday afternoon. Here’s live Twitter coverage from Xpress reporter David Forbes.
Bothwell calls for dissolving, reforming Planning and Zoning Commission
Asheville City Council member Cecil Bothwell, citing “failures in the process” of reviewing and appointing candidates to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, calls for it to be dissolved and reformed so that recent appointments can be reconsidered.
Asheville City Council preview: of budgets and benefits
The Asheville City Council has a full agenda tomorrow, both at the formal meeting and the worksession that precedes it, where Council will discuss the anticipated $5 million deficit the city faces next year and the implementation of domestic-partner benefits.
CTS activists set up fund for independent water testing
Residents of the Mills Gap Road area have set up a fund to pay for independent soil, water and vapor testing near the contaminated former CTS of Asheville site.
Gordon Smith convenes group to promote citizen support for Google high-speed initiative
About 30 people assembled at the Dripolator on Thursday evening, March 4, to discuss ways to encourage citizen involvement to convince Google to pick Asheville as the town where it will build a high-speed fiber-optic network that brings super Internet connectivity to homes and businesses at speeds of 100 times that of DSL and other typical services presently available.
Keever, Goforth square off at CIBO luncheon
N.C. Rep. Bruce Goforth debated challenger Patsy Keever at a Council of Independent Business Owners luncheon on Thursday, March 4. The two offered their differing views on topics such as the Sullivan Acts, taxes and steep slope development.