You are doing good public service by giving Dr. Carl Mumpower so much column space to expand upon his philosophy. I previously saw only bits and pieces, from news quotes or from his frequent letters to editors, where his comments were usually brief and snide. The expanded coverage gives better insight into his conservative beliefs. […]

Although I commend Mountain Xpress on including all points of views, and everyone has a right to their opinion, I find Carl Mumpower's views to be so incredibly offensive, as well as inaccurate, that I will refuse to read any further commentaries by him! Thank God he is no longer on Asheville City Council; and […]

I'm looking through last week's "Wedding Album" in the Xpress and thinking about how none of my gay friends can personally share in this joy. But mainly, I am writing in response to Rev. Keith A. Ogden's statement, "homosexual lifestyle, that's a lifestyle choice," and how apparently making that "choice" simply does away with any […]

Rev. Keith Ogden's comments as Asheville City Council discussed providing health-insurance benefits for same-sex partners come from the same ignorance that could have kept this country from electing an African-American president. He said, "I didn't choose my skin color. … But the homosexual lifestyle, that's a lifestyle choice." My daddy, alongside all the deacons in […]

I don't want to come off sounding like an angry letter-writing vegetarian, but that is exactly what I am. I feel compelled to write my very first letter to the editor after having thoroughly enjoyed reading them for the last 15 years (didn't even write one during the Mumpower years). I would like to express […]

One of the many subtle forms of racist ideology is the tendency to lump an entire race of people into one category. The belief of Angel Chandler [whose letter appeared in last week's Xpress] that she has been "let down" by the African-American community, and her viewpoint regarding our "homophobic position," oversimplifies and makes assumptions […]

I was disappointed to see Mayor Bellamy oppose City Council's decision to move forward with providing same-sex domestic-partners benefits. One hundred fifty years ago, her ancestors were held in slavery. Seventy years ago, members of my family were sent to concentration camps because they were Jewish. Was it wrong that our relatives were discriminated against […]

Well, it's yet another beautiful and cloudless winter day here in Asheville. The roads are clear, and there's not a drop of precipitation in the air. However, the city has still decided to once again cancel school? I'm glad that all the parents and caregivers of these fine children are unemployed and have a copious […]

As a Mountain Xpress reader for almost a decade, I want to commend you for improvements that I have seen in your publication. In style, design and organization, the paper has vastly improved; in content, it has become more appealing. However, I have to echo recent criticism of the Xpress regarding the Valentine's issue being […]

I am writing about an apparent employment issue that I am experiencing. It has to do with the background-check policy that is run by many employers both large and small. It appears that one's history of residency is a factor that alone can deny someone a job, even though they have a clean criminal history. […]

An article entitled "Historic Agreement Ends North Shore Road Controversy," by Danny Bernstein, dated Feb. 10, attributes to me a quote about Smokies Wilderness. I did not make the statement attributed to me. I was not asked any question about wilderness and made no statement on the subject. Had I been asked (which I was […]

In last week's Xpress, I wrote a letter regarding snow and ice being removed from the sidewalks in front of city-owned buildings — specifically, the West Asheville library and police station. The letter was written on a Tuesday. That Tuesday afternoon, the Xpress Twitter feed published a number to call to have snow removed from […]

This letter is in response to a letter from Elli Cleber in the Feb. 10 edition of Mountain Xpress regarding being snow-plowed in by the city. First off, I would like to say thank you to the city of Asheville Public Works Department for an excellent job done during the last storm. I realize that […]

Times aren't going too well. Life should be way better for us. Having to face the challenges of recent years is not at all the way that we should be treated or taught. We aren't alive to teach our friends, families or children to believe that life is always hard and terrible. It's our choice, […]