“If we don’t speak up about how we want to see Asheville grow, then others will make the decisions for us.”
Letter: UNCA can help Asheville’s housing crisis and save the woods
“If the 19 acres more appropriate for housing development aren’t enough, then let’s have a solution-oriented discussion about what to do next. But don’t lead with bulldozing the woods.”
Letter: Be prepared for hazards of planting bamboo
“Don’t do it unless you have the time and the energy or are feeding pandas.”
Letter: Bamboo is not a good idea for WNC
“She sings its praises. It does not belong in Western North Carolina, and it will outcompete native plants.”
Paving over problems
Letter: UNCA should pivot on urban forest
“When you see firsthand the endless, gut-wrenching sights of downed trees at every bend in the road, you, too, will understand what is at stake by ignoring a community that cares about the elimination of additional trees.”
Letter: Trust UNCA to make good use of urban forest
“The intentions of the UNCA administration to utilize the resources of the urban forest to strengthen the university are based on both necessity and good intentions.”
Boots on the ground
Letter: Recent zoning changes are a double-edged sword
“I implore the City of Asheville to take a thoughtful look at what unintended consequences might occur if we only approach our housing problems with an ‘easier and faster’ mindset and perhaps even strengthen building codes and regulations regarding stormwater.”
Letter: Thumbs-up for social district
“I think that a social district on the South Slope sounds like an excellent idea!”
Letter: We live on a self-correcting planet
“Ironically, Hurricane Helene has been a bright reality check on this status quo that’s illuminated local governments more addicted to social engineering than dependable services.”
Deep cuts
Letter: Social district would burden South Slope businesses
“If the goal is to revitalize downtown and support local businesses, there are more effective ways to achieve that without the negative consequences of a social district.”
Spring is here
Letter: Yes to an Asheville social district
“I think it’s a great idea to create a social quadrant of the city.”
Changing seasons
Letter: Policies make nursing homes seem like prisons
“I accompanied a senior citizen friend while he moved from his home to a Hendersonville nursing home, and the first thing the nursing home did was to put an electronic bracelet on him to prevent him from leaving.”
Letter: Reinvention and finding hope after Helene
“Being in a place that has experienced a disaster is not just witnessing destruction. It is witnessing the power of the human spirit to rebuild, reimagine and rise stronger than ever before.”
Revoltin’ development
Letter: Hosting exchange students can build connections
“After the challenges Asheville (and America) have faced in recent months, I hope more families will consider hosting an international exchange student and experience the connections that come from opening their homes.”
Letter: Protect UNCA’s urban forest
“We urge UNCA to pause all work immediately. Let’s collaborate on a plan that balances financial needs with preserving this invaluable green space for future generations.”
