Author Archive
Thanks, East Asheville
Posted by: | CommentsThis is the video that East Asheville residents showed to City Council last night. It was a productive and positive meeting. I’m confident that all of Asheville is going to move more quickly towards a comprehensive multimodal transportation network. More soon!
What Tom Said
Posted by: | CommentsFrom the Shuler – Miller comment thread comes this quote from Tom Sullivan.
Republicans play the long game. Like terriers with a knotted rope, they won’t let go. They can be the relentless, and that is how they defeat liberals over and over. They know that if they just hold out long enough, liberals will give up and go home. They may win nothing more than a knotted rope, but that is enough to keep them going. One setback for us and we are ready to throw in the towel.
Me, I’m just getting warmed up.
Hey, Hey, Busy, Busy
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a quick note to mention the City Council meeting in East Asheville tomorrow night and also my imminent departure for parts unknown.
Tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8/31) at 6:30pm, the Asheville City Council will convene at Groce United Methodist Church in east Asheville for a special meeting. You’re invited. I talked about taking Council “on the road” during my campaign, so I’m thrilled to have been one of the advocates for this event. Chris Pelly is an east Asheville neighborhood leader and has been instrumental in getting this meeting scheduled.
East Asheville residents are making it abundantly clear that they want more multimodal infrastructure, particularly sidewalks. A study showed that E. AVL has only 9% of the city’s sidewalks. This is due largely to post-war construction and the love affair with the automobile, but it’s time these neighborhoods got retrofitted for better and safer pedestrian mobility. We know that all of Council is very interested in seeing more sidewalks across the city, so I’m hoping east Asheville residents will show up with their ideas about how we ought to pay for them.
A comprehensive multimodal transportation system is vital to Asheville’s health and economic development. Sidewalks, bike lanes, transit, greenways, and roadways must work together to offer maximum safety, convenience, and choice.
On another note – I’m going away for a week to celebrate my 40th birthday (it’s on September 5th). I’ll be cruising out of town on Wednesday morning and returning a week later. Thank goodness for good friends willing to house-sit and look after our two big hounds while we’re away.
More upon my return. Consider this a week-long open thread for your amusement.
Shuler – Miller
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Lots to discuss. RCP ranking the NC-11 race a toss-up. Speaker? Jobs fair. Miller Ad. Buncombe’s jilted progressives. BCGOP shenanigans.
Shuler’s votes on energy, environment, education, and labor look great. Shuler’s votes on health care and civil rights don’t. GOP’s lame attempts to again tie him to a demonized Pelosi look silly.
Heath Shuler is monied, and Jeff Miller is not. The Asheville Tea Party decided not to endorse Miller, so the WNCGOP formed their own Tea Party to make sure he got a Tea Party endorsement of some sort. The Buncombe GOP is putatively leaderless. The Buncombe Dems have a lot of energy, but will they have vols? Can Susan Fisher, Patsy Keever, and Jane Whilden coattails translate into votes for Heath?
I can’t wait to hear everyone’s take on the race. Fire away in the comments. You can bet that both campaigns will be reading.
Disclaimer – I am definitely voting for Rep. Heath Shuler.
Representative Keever
Posted by: | CommentsFrom an email sent by Drew Reisinger, Campaign Manager for the inimitable Patsy Keever:
The Buncombe County Democratic Party Executive Committee voted to recommend Patsy Keever to fill the North Carolina House of Representatives District 115 seat recently vacated by former Rep. Bruce Goforth. The Committee’s recommendation will be sent to Governor Perdue for her signature and official appointment of Keever to serve the remainder of the term.
All Ears #27
Posted by: | CommentsIn this ongoing experiment to provide ease of access to your government, this thread can be the home to all of your questions, suggestions, requests, and dedications.
In our most recent meeting, City Council voted 4-3 (with yours truly opposed) to support Montford Commons’ request for a 5 year tax abatement and 50% reduction on fees. They’re now moving ahead to meet with County Commissioners to finish closing their funding gap.
We also voted (6-1, Jan Davis opposed) to reopen the pedestrian bridge from the Chicken Hill side of I-240 to the Hillcrest side. By clearing the underbrush, lighting the entire area including the sidewalk, posting additional police protection, and upgrading the bridge itself we will be bringing increased safety to an area that’s been too long neglected. It will also serve as a bona fide transportation route from west Asheville to downtown.
What are your thoughts, concerns, needs, desires? I’m all ears.
TEDx Events This Weekend
Posted by: | CommentsThanks to Jen Saylor for the info!
Sunday, August 29
5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (doors 4:30)
$25 advance/$25 door
All ages
Mix your favorite mind-blowing lecture in college with a concert, a night out downtown, and presenters including “Last American Man” Eustace Conway (subject of a biography by “Eat Pray Love” author Elizabeth Gilbert).
Then add a local focus that celebrates Asheville and WNC, and you’ve got TEDxAsheville, a conference event where smart is sexy and great ideas are the name of the game.
A TEDx weekend: There are actually TWO TEDx events happening the last weekend in August. TEDxAsheville and TEDxNextGeneration Asheville, a new event spotlighting the wisdom and accomplishments of local youth. Learn more about TEDxNGA here.
Patsy in the Park on Sunday
Posted by: | CommentsFrom the most excellent Alan Escovitz:
Please join us on this Sunday, August 29th, from 1:00-3:00 PM for a Picnic in the Grove Park (338 Charlotte Street) with Patsy Keever, Democratic candidate for the State Legislature, NC House District 115. We will be serving hot dogs, chips and soft drinks for everyone and you can meet and greet Patsy, an uncommon public servant with a great deal of common sense. Campaign contributions are not expected.
Patsy offers deep local experience and practical progressive ideas. As a public school teacher for 25 years, Patsy is committed to quality public education, closing achievement gaps and ensuring our next generation is well prepared for a better future. Patsy is dedicated to nurturing our natural resources for the public good and protecting our environment, and passing state-wide rules now for steep slope development.
Pedestrian Bridge
Posted by: | CommentsGo over to Ashvegas to learn more about the pedestrian bridge issue that is on tomorrow’s agenda at City Council.
Sunday Morning Music
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