Lit up

Asheville City Council March 22, 2011 meeting Trash pickup may be retooled Living wage approved for city contracts To some observers, it may have seemed as though Asheville City Council members and Ingles Markets were playing a game of development chicken, reaching the cliff’s edge during Council’s March 22 meeting. In February, Council members balked […]

Local Matters: County Budget, City Council and EPA updates for CTS

In this week’s Local Matters podcast, Xpress news editor Margaret Williams talks to reporter David Forbes about Buncombe County’s budget woes, and environmental reporter Susan Andrew about the latest news from the EPA about the polluted CTS site. Xpress freelancer Christopher George also presents a rundown of last week’s City Council meeting.

Council passes equality resolution­, 5-1 ***UPDATED WITH VIDEO***

At the end of a nearly six-hour meeting, Asheville City Council passed a “equality” resolution that includes domestic-partnership registry, employment non-discrimination policy, anti-bullying ordinance and an endorsement of civil marriage. In other actions, Council continued its public hearing on Ingles’ request for exemptions in its plan to build a new store on Smoky Park Highway.
photo by Jerry Nelson

Local clergy push City Council to pass equality resolution

Local clergy push City Council to pass equality resolution
About 25 local faith leaders and several Asheville City Council members gathered today, Jan. 25, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ to advocate for “full equality for all Asheville citizens.” The resolution pushed by the faith leaders — representing a variety of traditions — calls for City Council to take four specific actions, including “extending the city’s employment non-discrimination clause to include sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity or expression.” 
Photo by Jonathan Welch