“The bike lanes are not only ‘not used’ but take up too much width. A narrower scale might’ve made more sense to accommodate everyone.”
Letter: North Asheville’s gentrified bullies fail to do their part
“But what angers me about it is the Episcopal Appeasement, spelled out in bold that lets North Asheville make millions off intimidation, along with Biltmore Forest and Montreat, while ‘East and West’ do their part, so I really don’t see why the city or county tolerate these gentrified, shirking bullies.”
Letter: Disillusioned by shelter backlash
“I wonder, though, how ‘nice’ we are if we allow people in crisis to live on the street and refuse to give them shelter.”
Letter: Tourism board should use budget to educate tourists
“But the recent feeding (and attempted hugging?) of bears by visitors (which led to park closures impacting residents and guests alike) leads me to believe that the TDA (a group that takes credit for bringing 12 million guests to our region each year) should assume some responsibility for safeguarding guests, as well as impacted residents.”
Letter: Broadening state oversight seems excessive
“Federal and state grants have always had language that included fiscal and program oversight.”
Letter: Which path will you choose?
“Will you hand over your spiritual and mental freedom to those in authority who censor free speech? This is huge.”
Letter: Kids’ safety should take top priority
“One of these days, a kid will be run over. Then the commissioners will say, ‘Well, we were intending to start putting a sidewalk in on the day before.’ It’ll be too late then.”
Letter: Why do we value fancy surveillance toys over citizens?
“They keep bragging publicly about their new fancy toys; this cutting-edge surveillance vehicle, drones, a cute publicity dog and a cop car that features the color pink. The city could have spent that money on things that actually save and improve people’s lives.”
Letter: Give!Local offers great way to donate
“The Give!Local magazine included in the Mountain Xpress newspaper [Nov. 1] is such a great way to inform us of charities we might like to donate to during the holiday season.”
Letter: Edwards needs math skills
“If you cut IRS enforcement and collect less from those who pay less than they should, then you will increase the deficit.”
Letter: Crosswalks need new paint for safety
“City of Asheville, please give our pedestrian crosswalks a new paint job.”
Letter: Spend TDA funds on pickleball courts and more
“Build a large pickleball facility to take care of those picklers and free up tennis courts for their intended purpose.”
Letter: Give up the ghost (garage)
“The City of Asheville should buy the garage and surrounding land, probably for pennies on the dollar if it is not already in bankruptcy court, and build a new Thomas Wolfe complex on the site, a parking garage already built.”
Letter: Expect intrusion from Gov Ops Commission
“Clearly the Gov Ops Commission is going to use its new invasive powers to harass organizations and individuals that serve women’s health care, the LBGTQ community, the transgender community, minority communities, our educational institutions and anything and anyone else that the far right decides is too ‘woke.’”
Letter: Thanks, community, for building Candace Pickens Memorial Park
“More than two years after Jones Park was demolished, the voices and shouts of children can be heard enjoying the playground renamed for Candace Pickens.”
Letter: Concerns about the holiday parade
“If the holiday parade can tolerate military trainees and floats with fake missiles on them, surely the holiday parade can tolerate signs and T-shirts that promote peace, disarmament, health care and protecting the environment.”
Letter: How does peace not fit in holiday parade?
“If promoting peace, environmental sustainability and human rights in a holiday parade have become too controversial in the ‘Christmas season,’ then we are certainly in a sad state indeed.”
Letter: Asheville’s eclectic nature rejected from parade
“Recently, I am seeing our city’s eclectic nature being rejected, as in this situation, and Asheville succumbing to corporate entities!”
Letter: Why can’t we promote peace in holiday parade?
“Can we not try to keep some of that inclusivity alive during this season by allowing a parade unit that promotes care for our home — Earth — and peace as a big way to do that?”
Letter: Listen to downtown and South Slope business owners
“I would give more weight to people who have invested sweat, money and time into enterprises that, should they fail, would mean disaster to them, their families and their employees.”
Letter: Asheville Downtown Association should reconsider holiday parade parameters
“We think it is a sad commentary about those promoting and organizing this annual event that they cannot see that the groups in Only One Earth Coalition are a vital part of our Asheville community and deserve to be celebrated and raised up, not excluded.”