“I fully support the Tourism Development Authority budget being changed so that half of its current earnings serve to offset the negative impacts of tourism.”
Letter: Spend tourism tax money on infrastructure
“The proceeds from the tax (75% plus) should be going toward enhancing the infrastructure that the visitors and locals use.”
Letter: Advertising isn’t the only way to increase tourism
“In an area with many other needs, it seems only sensible to address these needs. Actually, everything that improves the area in any way makes tourists like the area more.”
Letter: Cut tourism promotion and reallocate funds
“My vote would be to cut tourism promotional expenditures by 90% and reallocate those funds to improve infrastructure, deal with the homeless situation and lower the exorbitant residential property taxes.”
Letter: We need new leadership in Asheville
“If you are weary of the high taxes, roads filled with potholes, cracked or absent sidewalks, having a skeleton police force and subpar schools, I hope you will be inspired to run for City Council.”
Letter: Gerrymandering is cheating
“So where is the outrage and press coverage when the North Carolina legislature implements a plan to dilute the votes and essentially silence the voices of nearly half its population?”
Letter: TDA should put money where it’s urgently needed
“Put your money where it’s needed: Give it to local organizations that do not have your resources that are already helping the desperate to get on their feet and off the streets; reduce the unhoused and underserved population; make a difference in the world; make Asheville a better place to visit; and your tourists will come.”
Letter: A cyclist’s take on Asheville’s bike lanes
“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.’”