Editorial memories from Xpress’ tricky, triumphant teens
The inescapable conclusion for me, was that a local news source, particularly the altweekly sort, lives and dies on its role as a community partner.
Letter: Runners, take a lesson from skiers
“It is unnerving and frankly annoying when there is no consideration given to those ahead of you just because they are going slower. For both of our safety, please try to do better!”
Letter: Come together to honor Asheville’s peace heroes
“These local groups and many more peace and justice groups make up a culture of peace in Asheville, envied by many other communities in our mountain region.”
Letter: On decision-making and homophobia
“I think any action prompted by homophobia is bound to have ill effects.”
Running in circles
Letter: Yancey County will lose pooled resources
“The Yancey County administration may be unaware of advantages gained by being in a three-county system, such as interlibrary loans of materials that a single system is unable to afford.”
Letter: Embrace of ignorance harms next generation
“It is our next generation who is being underserved by the blatant ignorance of bigots in their homes, their schools, their political offices.”
Gaming the system
Asheville’s alt-weekly has both captured and contributed to WNC’s evolution
Since moving here in 2002, I have seen Xpress transform from an edgy, quirky publication to the strong, serious news and cultural resource it is today — without sacrificing its trademark uniqueness.
Letter: When zoning and politics collide
“I was very disappointed to read reports that the Trump-appointee blueprint, Project 2025, explicitly supports single-family zoning, which would push me back toward the Democrats from whom I departed.”
Community embraced Xpress — and it showed
Former Xpress advertising director Wanda Edney recalls the early years of the newspaper’s growth in WNC.
Letter: Let’s head off a kudzu monolith
“There is no doubt that people will be economically affected when every road and scenic area in WNC is kudzu-covered, and that time is fast approaching.”
Where’s the money?
Letter: Where does the money go?
“I think it would be nice to have a full disclosure of how the $3 billion is spent and who gets it. It just doesn’t sit well with me.”
Letter: Fundamentals of education haven’t changed
“It escapes me how this could impact overworked, underpaid and probably unappreciated teachers interacting with students in classrooms.”
Reading is fundamentalist
Letter: We can still talk about Vance without the monument
“The ‘visioning plan’ currently approved by the City Council foresees a Pack Square Plaza that contains something better than a new monument — an open “gathering space” where Ashevilleans can discuss anything they want, including their infamous native son.”
Letter: Jail annex could help ‘frequent flyers’
“I especially support his recommendation that selected street offenders be housed in the jail’s ‘annex,’ currently unused, next to the jail building.”
Garbage in
Letter: Library melee shows need to practice nonviolence
“In these deeply divided and perilous times, we all need to learn and practice skills that will defuse rather than escalate.”