Dispatches from DC: Cecil Bothwell at the Take Back the American Dream Conference *UPDATED*

Asheville City Council member and congressional candidate Cecil Bothwell is in Washington, D.C., for the Take Back the Dream Conference. Bothwell won a scholarship to attend by Democracy for America, a progressive organization founded by former Vermont Governor, Howard Dean. This post contains Bothwell’s live dispatches from the event as it unfolds.

Local Matters: Freedom of the press, council candidates and redistrict­ing

In this edition of Local Matters—the Xpress weekly news podcast—reporter David Forbes talks about the recent removal of newspaper boxes by the County and the recent announcement of candidates for Asheville City Council, and reporters Christopher George and Jake Frankel talk about the heated meetings around the new congressional redistricting plan. Hosted by News Editor Margaret Williams.

Local Matters: URTV gets legal, airport concerns and Bothwell’s bid

In this edition of Local Matters, Xpress News Editor Margaret Williams talks to reporter Jake Frankel about URTV’s possible legal filing against Buncombe County, and to reporter David Forbes about a controversial state move to takeover control of the Asheville Regional Airport, updates from City Council and the recent announcement of a congressional bid by Council member Cecil Bothwell.

A sidewalk tale: Volunteers set clean-up efforts

Back in October, Asheville City Council members voted to toughen ordinances that require property owners to keep sidewalks clean. Here’s a video — shared with city Council at the Nov. 9 meeting — of volunteer clean-up efforts, led by Z-Link and such government officials as Council member Cecil Bothwell, who narrates. (an Asheville PARC & Z-Links Presentation). Z-Links is planning a Nov. 20, city-wide clean-up.

The Sidewalk Cleanup Story from Bruce Kennedy on Vimeo.

Bothwell: decriminal­izing drugs, publicly financed elections goals for 2010 “and beyond”

While Asheville City Council meets in retreat to discuss its procedures and goals for the coming year, new Council member Cecil Bothwell has announced 11 goals he’ll pursue in 2010, ranging from the sweeping (decriminalizing drugs, ceasing immigration enforcement) to the local (ceasing to build downtown parking spaces, simplifying the city’s development ordinance).