A City Council candidate forum called into question how progressive Asheville really is when it comes to rights and protections for those in the LGBTQ community. All six candidates said they are in favor of the city of Asheville implementing a nondiscrimination ordinance, which is specifically disallowed under House Bill 142.
As Asheville enjoys the benefits of a bustling economy, it also confronts challenges that come with growth, including concerns over housing, tourism, budgeting and certain segments of the city getting left behind. Xpress asked all the candidates for mayor and City Council to share their thoughts on these topics and more prior to the Nov. 7 general election.
Women in Asheville have seen the light when it comes to the benefits of networking to boost their business and personal connections. Xpress explored a variety of networking opportunities for women, as well as some high-powered advice for maximizing the impact of time spent networking.
“Personally I will be voting for Sheneika Smith, Dee Williams and Kim Roney. I really believe these three amazing, strong, outspoken, forthright, visionary women will make a huge difference that is needed on our City Council.”
Who can afford to live here and how can we all live together? Those questions formed the crux of the conversation among Asheville City Council candidates at a Sept. 18 forum where two issues garnered strong and varying viewpoints: the lack of affordable housing and persistent racial tensions in Asheville.
Six candidates for Asheville City Council participated in a forum hosted by the Asheville chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America on Sept. 13. Hot topics included affordability and police reform.
Nicole Townsend’s upcoming production, Existing While Black, was created because she was “wanting a platform to where we can go deeper and talk about things that are uncomfortable, that hurt, and that make people angry.”
Sheneika Smith sheneikaforasheville.com Occupation: Program instructor/community engagement coordinator (Green Opportunities) Previous candidacy: None Affiliations: Democrat Short-answer questions Why are you running for City Council? I’m an Asheville native who is concerned that our city’s growth and development will continue to disproportionately advantage outsiders while extracting vital resources from local businesses and families. I am a […]
