“The lack of regular patrolling invites chaos and boundary testing. This has been a long-running issue and can only be solved by a community united by bold government leadership.”
Tag: homelessness
Showing 22-42 of 151 results
Letter: How quickly can downtown be saved (again)?
“How could things have gotten this bad without intervention? How quickly will this situation of fear and crime be turned around?”
Workers tell city leaders about fear and frustration over downtown crime, violence
Violent and disturbing incidents downtown are leaving workers frustrated and frightened. One business owner at an Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce listening session asked the assembled crowd, “How many people have to get assaulted?”
Fellowship to expand number of lawyers versed in evictions, housing issues
Evictions in Asheville have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and many evictions begin when a tenant has raised concerns about housing conditions, says David Bartholomew, the nonprofit’s homelessness prevention services director.
Safety, transit concerns raised at first Asheville budget meeting
Tom Tesser was one of several commenters from the Asheville Coalition for Public Safety, a recently formed advocacy group that looks to build support for the APD. Five of the nine speakers on budget matters sought larger salaries for police officers and shared their personal experiences of downtown crime and safety issues.
Letter: The same old solutions won’t solve Asheville’s problems
“What we can’t do is continue pretending that headlines, hand-wringing, a lack of diverse thinking, anger, studies, politicians, enabling and spending other people’s money will create the solutions.”
Whose space is public space?
“The people we exclude from public spaces, and the things we refer to as worthless, say a lot about what we value as a community.”
From Asheville Watchdog: National consultant offers ‘road map’ to end homelessness in Asheville … again
Local advocates say they are skeptical that yet another study will make a difference.
Report: Buncombe homelessness can be halved in 2 years
Much of the presentation focused on the shortcomings of how local governments and service providers currently collaborate to address homelessness.
Family shelter lands at church instead of vacant school
Although Asheville has numerous shelters for the homeless population, its organizers say this particular shelter fills gaps in the city’s current system. “The focus is on intact families,” explains shelter worker Gene Ettison.
Year in Review: Public safety issues were top of mind in 2022
Xpress asked activists, law enforcement leaders, government officials and others to weigh in on how local crime and related issues shaped the past year.
Year in Review: Economy, homelessness and live events shape quality of life in 2022
What does quality of life mean in Western North Carolina? For the 2022 Year In Review, Xpress asked community members to share their thoughts.
Year in Review: Readers shared opinions on growth, environment, homelessness and more
Readers had a lot to say in 2022 about a host of local issues — from our region’s growth and development to the environment, homelessness and more.
Can Asheville draw on the past to build its future?
“Today, Asheville’s a tourist destination fueled by wealth-take-all capitalism beset with growing urban issues such as parking, pollution, land use, development, affordable housing, crime and allocation of tax revenues. Yet are all these intractable problems with only temporary solutions? Not really.”
Letter: One-party rule in Buncombe?
“I’ve also noticed the same complaints year in and year out — high cost of living, low-paying jobs, lack of good jobs, homelessness, etc. And yet, for some reason I can’t begin to fathom, the same people and the same party keep getting reelected.”
Council to hear Code Purple update amid freezing temperatures
If next week’s forecast is correct, overnight temperatures in Asheville will dip below freezing several times, potentially exposing those living without shelter to harsh conditions. Fittingly, members of Asheville City Council will hear an update on the city’s Code Purple program during their meeting of Tuesday, Nov. 15.
Was U.S. Open cash drop the best use of tax dollars?
“Our leaders are allowing dubious choices like spending $1.3 million on vague ads and luxury VIP suites in New York City, while Asheville’s homeless situation is ever more disturbing.”
Outreach team seeks to address complex emergency calls
On any day of the week, first responders in Buncombe County might be dispatched to this common scenario: A business owner or a bystander sees a woman on the sidewalk who is agitated, yelling, screaming, and pacing back and forth. Concerned, a bystander calls 911 to get this person help; it’s unclear whether she’s injured, […]
Asheville’s Code Purple program began Oct. 15
Code Purple will have nearly 100 beds available for emergency overnight shelter for Asheville’s unhoused population when the temperature is freezing or below. The program will also operate for two additional months in the winter and spring of 2022-23.
How is Asheville addressing panhandling?
While current city ordinances place some restrictions on panhandling, in most instances it is a legal means of making money. Bill Davis, spokesperson for Asheville Police Department, says police had received 95 calls for panhandling this year as of Aug. 17, the majority of which were requests for wellness checks out of concern for those in need.
Letter: Help the homeless children first
“There should be zero homeless children because they do not have a choice.”