In this edition of the Local Matters podcast, Xpress reporters Jake Frankel and David Forbes discuss East Asheville sidewalk concerns with neighborhood activists Chris Pelly and Kim Engel ahead of tonight’s special Asheville City Council meeting on the issue. The duo also discuss last week’s City Council meeting (including the scope of the Hillcrest pedestrian bridge reopening and the controversy around the incentives granted to the Montford Commons development) and Congressman Heath Shuler’s recent visit to Asheville.

Xpress staffers Jake Frankel, Michael Muller and David Forbes recently sat down over drinks (and in Muller’s case, painkillers) at the Flying Frog to discuss some of the stories in this week’s issue. The resulting podcast features a discussion of this week’s cover story on Pack Square Park.

Xpress staffers Jake Frankel, Michael Muller and David Forbes recently sat down over drinks to discuss some of the stories covered in this week’s issue. They huddled under the awning at Mayfels as a severe thunderstorm swirled around them and chatted about downtown visionary Julian Price, the Biltmore Park Town Square development, the state of the local economy, taxes, and the current debates over city annexations and sidewalks. This news podcast experiment came out of their conversation.