Letter: Goodbye, old friend

Graphic by Lori Deaton

This is a goodbye letter to the charming little town of Black Mountain. …

Why am I saying goodbye? Because the town administration, police and fire department, and many of the businesses … callously and recklessly ignore safety precautions mandated by Buncombe County and our own governor, as well as the CDC. Apparently, it’s more important to serve political opinion and bias than to protect their own citizens. For this reason, I will no longer support Black Mountain commerce.

Residents of Black Mountain, you might consider asking your leadership why they were so willing to sacrifice your health to stick it to the libs. Shame on them.

— Angela Song
Asheville

Editor’s note: This letter was submitted before the statewide mask mandate went into effect. Also, Xpress contacted Josh Harrold, Black Mountain’s town manager, with a summary of the letter writer’s points and received the following response: “The town of Black Mountain began operating under a state of emergency on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Mountain, as did every other municipal jurisdiction in Buncombe County, followed the county’s lead and was step-for-step in line with Buncombe County up until May 22, when Buncombe County, along with Asheville, mandated face coverings without enforcement. The town of Black Mountain and every other municipal jurisdiction along with Buncombe County have followed or been more stringent than all of Gov. Cooper’s executive orders. The town of Black Mountain has and will continue to work with Buncombe County and Gov. Cooper’s office to continue to limit the spread of the virus.”

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7 thoughts on “Letter: Goodbye, old friend

  1. Lou

    “The town of Black Mountain has and will continue to work with Buncombe County and Gov. Cooper’s office to continue to limit the spread of the virus.”
    How exactly? Even your servers in the restaurants there don’t wear masks, I’ve been to Black Mountain, I’ve seen it. I also won’t be back…and I’m spreading the word.

  2. Don

    Two months ago I sent emails to 3 restaurants in Weaverville expressing my sadness that, although they were trying to comply, the city’s response to masks left us with no other choice but to stop eating in Weaverville. Emails directly to Black Mountain businesses may help with encouraging the town to enforce the wearing of masks. After observing the lack of masks on customers at the Black Mountain Ingles, we will now no longer shop there or get takeout from any Black Mountain restaurants.

  3. indy499

    If Black Mountain were savvy, like Mtn Exp fav Brownie, they’d mandate masks with the consequence of non-compliance being, well, nothing. That’s how you do politics.

    • Lou

      That’s not how we should do politics and until we the people shake up the status quo, nothing will change. If you see something, say something. It’s how change happens.

  4. Mike

    Here is a tip… To reduce chance of catching Kung Flu in restaurants to 0.0%, don’t engage in on-site eating. Almost 100% of infections are from environmental surfaces that you touch and then acquire the disease by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. The disease its transmitted in relatively massive particles that don’t travel far before falling to down onto surfaces (including the floor).. This is why it is true (as was stated early on) that masks protect you only in the sense that they prevent you from inadvertently touching nose or mouth (but not eyes). They can reduced but don’t eliminate the particulate matter exhaled by an infected person.

    • Lou

      …and you’re okay with people breathing all over the food you are about to eat via take-out? Pass.

    • Lou

      also…for someone who SOUNDS smart based on what your are writing, calling this virus a “Kung Flu” is moronic and racist. Get a grip dude, your status is good for now. White people won’t be a minority for a couple more decades. CANNOT WAIT!!

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