‘Gordon is focused on important issues such as affordable housing, living wages and increased accountability from the Tourism Development Authority.”
Tag: gordon smith
Showing 22-42 of 70 results
Letter writer: Gordon Smith is experienced, informed
“I don’t know anyone who cares more about the future of our beautiful corner of the world and the people who live here and make it what it is. “
Letter writer: Smith leads us toward decent living for all
“Standing for living wages, bus service on weekends, more flexible housing standards that can include small and “tiny” houses, he leads us toward decent living for all.”
Board and commission chairs kick off 2016 with luncheon
At a luncheon on Jan. 14, Mayor Esther Manheimer and Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler welcomed new and returning city board chairs and commissioners to their important positions in city government. Roundtable discussions produced suggestions for enhanced collaborations between the city’s 34 boards and commissions and other parts of city government.
Letter writer: Smith understands issues and how they intertwine
“Gordon [Smith] understands public transit, housing, food security and how the issues are intertwined better than anyone I know.”
Letter writer: Gordon Smith offers energy, vision for Buncombe County
“If you know Gordon, you know that he’s a fighter for the underdog, for our children, for the poor and the disenfranchised.”
City Council to take steps on expanding Homestays, planning for park
In its first full meeting since three newly-elected Council members were seated, City Council moved in new directions on a public space for a city-owned lot on Haywood Street and on including some accessory dwelling units in the city’s homestay ordinance for short-term rentals. Council also considered downtown development review standards and passed a resolution on the I-26 connector project.
City Council to take fresh look at downtown development
With four cranes silhouetted against the skyline, construction fencing blocking sidewalks and hundreds of construction workers on the job every day, downtown Asheville is buzzing with development activity. Despite the blazing pace of new construction, City Council has reviewed only four downtown projects since 2010. At its Dec. 8 meeting, City Council will reconsider the thresholds that trigger Council review.
New City Council members sworn in; Wisler elected as Vice Mayor
Newly-elected Asheville City Council members were sworn in on Dec. 1. The new Council selected Councilwoman Gwen Wisler as Vice Mayor. Mayor Esther Manheimer pronounced the short, upbeat meeting a “good start” for the new body.
City Council amends Homestay ordinance; extends transit contract
Asheville City Council passed revisions to the city’s Homestay ordinance for short-term lodging and approved an extension of the management contract for the Asheville bus system at its Nov. 17 meeting. Outgoing Councilmen Jan Davis, Marc Hunt and Chris Pelly were honored for their service.
Stories lead to the heart of healing
When you know you’re the one telling the story of your life — whether through myth, fairy tale, or narrative therapy — you’ve got what it takes to authorize your own well-being.
Buncombe Beat — Comprehensive previews and recaps for city, county meetings
This page features previews and recaps for meetings of hte Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.
Hidden in plain sight: Asheville’s food deserts
How does Asheville, one of the busiest tourist hubs in the state — a place where you can’t throw a rock without hitting a chef or a farmer — have so many people lacking access to good food or outright going to bed hungry?
Reviving folk agriculture in the modern food economy
In 1790, 90 percent of Americans were farmers. Today that figure boils down to less than 1 percent. The change is particularly noticeable in the South, which up until the 1950s, was a largely agrarian society. Now, some are calling for a rebuilding and supporting of a locally-focused food system — which used to be prevalent in Appalachia.
Asheville City Council: Housing Trust Fund, ordinance adoptions and circus ban consideration
On April 8, Asheville City Council members voted unanimously to pass a resolution to adopt a Housing Trust Fund recommendation to fund Biotat LLC’s Oak Hill Commons Project, as well as an ordinance adopting the new 2014-15 Fees and Charges Manual. Council also considered a request that city officials ban circuses that use exotic animals from […]
In photos: Election Night 2013
A series of images by photographer Nick King showing a glimpse of election night, as Ashevilleans found out the results of the election for their next mayor and three City Council members.
Election results: Manheimer Asheville’s next mayor; Wisler, Smith, Bothwell win Council seats
With all precincts reporting, turnout in the Nov. 5 city of Asheville elections was low, but the results were decisive. Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer defeated former city risk manager John Miall by a considerable margin to become the next mayor. Former Coleman CEO Gwen Wisler, along with incumbents Gordon Smith and Cecil Bothwell, also won Asheville City Council seats by a large number of votes. Photo by Nick King.
The Halloween Voter Guide to Asheville City Elections
With Halloween and the Asheville city elections so closely aligned, we offer both some scary art (by cartoonists Brent Brown and Randy Molton) and the candidates’ replies to five key questions.
Come midevening on Nov. 5, Asheville voters will have picked their new mayor and three City Council members. There are two mayoral candidates and five Council contenders (of whom two are incumbents). In a series of forums, what positions have the candidates taken? How have they responded to voter questions? Look for recent stories at mountainx.com/election, and check these excerpts from the candidates answers.
In their own words: Asheville City Council candidates make their case
Over the past week, Xpress ran interviews with each of the five Asheville City Council candidates running this year. Here, for your voting perusal, are all the interviews in one place.
Asheville City Council election interviews: Gordon Smith
This is the first in a series of interviews with the five candidates for Asheville City Council. First up: Council member Gordon Smith.
The great divide: Issues of race, justice, opportunity discussed at YWCA election forum
The final question asked of Asheville’s two mayoral and five city council candidates did not focus on the usual inquires raised during this municipal election. It wasn’t about the economy. It wasn’t about jobs. It wasn’t about the police department — though it certainly touched on all of those topics. And it had nothing to do with the Asheville Art Museum. (Photo by Max Cooper)