I think everyone wants change in this country, and anyone who doesn’t is either a nonthinker or [is] not paying attention. In listening to the latest TV ads Obama is putting out, all he is doing is talking about how bad off we are—something I think most of us know already. I know I do. […]

I support Hillary Clinton for president because she is the best-qualified candidate. I appreciate Hillary’s sharp mind and fully developed plans for our country. She is no slouch; she is tenacious and tough in the face of adversity.  And certainly, in this campaign, she has faced adversity. From a negative and misogynist press to the […]

As a supporter, a former board member and an erstwhile employee of numerous nonprofits, I find some glaring voids in your consideration of nonprofits in WNC [Sharing the Wealth,” April 9]. There is generally no public input for setting nonprofits’ priorities. Consequently, issues are addressed not according to public needs, but rather donors’ perceptions of […]

I felt the need to respond to the accusations of “slander” made by City Council at the March 25 meeting [“Development Moratorium Discussion Gets Testy,” April 2]. If it’s slander to confront Council and other elected officials about their inability to say no to any developer who brings a proposal for consideration; if it’s slander […]

Thank you for writing about people going up in smoke at Asheville Mortuary Services [“Where There’s Smoke …,” The Buzz, April 2]—which was licensed in 2005—only a few blocks from the Biltmore shopping area. Those who reported the bodies’ ash and smoke are not blowing hot air. I first saw the dense black smoke aggressively […]

Kudos to Kent Priestley for the piece on Okeh Records’ Asheville sessions [“Mountain Country,” April 2]. Along with Phil Blank’s illustrations and Andrew Findley’s cover, that article should be archived by every serious old-time music fan. The research—and writing—was something you’d expect to find on the cover of Harper’s Magazine, rather than a small alternative […]

Please note that I am interested in protecting the lovely community of Black Mountain from the expansion of the Ingles located in Black Mountain. Ingles has not kept their promise to provide green space in the already existing [location]. What is to keep them from continuing to break their word? Black Mountain has a charming […]

I am writing to say that I deeply oppose the sale of public parkland in Pack Square to developer Stewart Coleman of Black Dog Realty. I am a small-business owner, and I am very invested in the economic growth of this city. However, if we are not very careful and intentional about change, Asheville will […]

I am writing regarding the proposed high-rise in the town of Asheville on property that was [deeded] in perpetuity to the citizens … for a park. This [project] would mean uprooting a magnolia tree and building a high-rise building in the center of town. Please let us unite to forbid the building of this proposed […]

Greed is running America right now. Can’t we do something to not let it run Asheville? — Moira Bradford Asheville

New housing, business improvement: Both are important aspects of community life. So is building restoration and urban redevelopment. Asheville is made great by the people who make up the community … . The magnolia tree has silently sat watch over generations of Asheville communities. It would be a shame to watch it go. It cannot […]

I have been marveling at all the development going on downtown—more and more condos being built for rich people! It seems like anywhere they can be crammed in, it is being done! I really wonder how our infrastructure will be able to support all these new residences. I think the biggest insult to our community […]

Asheville’s public green spaces are rare—so rare that I, a true Asheville native, have to get my cognitive gears cranking to even identify where they are. Oh yeah, City/County Plaza. Wow, what memories! Shindig on the Green, Greek Festival, major Bele Chere venue. But wait a minute. Mr. Coleman is putting yet another high-rise in […]

How can public land be sold to a private developer without any citizen input of any kind? This land is part of the George Pack legacy that clearly stipulated that this space would be held in the public trust as a park in perpetuity. I urge City Council to reject the Parkside condo proposal. It […]