All of Asheville looks hideous with weeds, weeds, everywhere!
Reasonable appropriations should go toward weed management. Why would citizens want to live with this disgusting eyesore?
What does this say about Asheville? Shame on you, Public Works.
Tourists? Take a look around you.
— Sherrie Mirsky
Asheville
Editor’s note: Xpress contacted the city of Asheville with a summary of the letter writer’s points and received the following response from communications specialist Polly McDaniel: “Please be aware that the city of Asheville and NCDOT both have roads within the city limits that they are responsible for maintaining. … Asheville Public Works has two mowing tractors and operators who mow on a daily basis April through November. They rotate around the city, though when specific issues crop up, like sight distance, we do our best to address those for safety reasons.
“We would advise residents who are concerned about a specific location to report it through the Asheville App, a free downloadable smart device app where people can report an area that needs attention. If you don’t have a smart device, you can also report a service issue on the city of Asheville website at [avl.mx/7tk].”
Really lame letter. What is a weed? I could reference another article by mountainx.
https://mountainx.com/food/wild-sustenance-lambsquarters-provide-backyard-source-of-nutrition-flavor/
As well Veronica Persica grows downtown in spring. In London England they used this weed to make tea during times when people couldnt afford normal tea.
https://mywoodlandgear.com/wew-persian-speedwell/
I’m guessing you’re not referring to roadside weeds as mentioned by the editor, but instead are talking about the kudzu overgrowth & other invasive species that pervade the green spaces? Regardless, you should contact Asheville GreenWorks and see if you can’t volunteer some of your time to help out? IIRC, they sometimes do invasive species removals…
Weed Wackers are on sale at Home Depot. In the time it took to write this letter you could have cleared at least a half a block on your own. Have at it and post pics!
The writer is correct on several fronts.
First, there are numerous properties throughout the city (mostly commercial) where the owner does not keep the grass/weeds reasonably mowed. The city ordinance is sufficiently vague (height of growth has to be a sanitation concern). Most cities simply require stuff to be mowed at 1 foot.
The big issue is that the Asheville has never had a bonafide code enforcement group. In stead, they expect each department to handle complaints. Much of this falls on Public Works which is one of the most underfunded and poorly resourced groups one could imagine.
Consequently, even if you complain via the CSR system, much never sees the light of day.
It does not take a rocket scientist to understand why property owners don’t keep their property mowed….they know it is extremely unlikely they’ll be called on it by the city and even if they were, the penalty is so low as to not provide much incentive.
Yes, the writer is absolutely correct. Many of these overgrown lots make Asheville look like a third world affair. Of course, many just love that. Isn’t Asheville great??!!
Weeds were here first.
Weed removal = agricultural gentrification.
Weed Lives Matter.
Have I missed any faddish memes?
They LIKE to keep AVL trashed out to keep the rents LOW … look at all the weedful curbs n gutters…
No really, we have such pathetic property owners who REFUSE to keep up their own properties and the feeling of neglect just takes over… it’s rampant in AVL…angry liberals like to destroy cities.
The City of Asheville needs to invest in more goats.
Asheville needs to have a lot more to do. Jees