Archive for Asheville City Council

Mar
11

All Ears #9

Posted by: Gordon Smith | Comments (1)

It’s Thursday, Asheville, and that means it’s time for a fresh installment of All Ears. In an effort to create ease of access to government, I’m opening this thread for all of your Asheville concerns. Whether it’s Larchmont or Richmond Hill, leave your observations, visions, rants, and gushy love letters here. Tell your friends that there’s a new way to interact with your City Council.

Comments (1)

livechatIt’s everybody’s* favorite bi-monthly event: Asheville City Council! As usual, ScrutinyHooligans will feature a LiveChat for the session. Join us for real-time observation, policy discussion, and pithy comments.

As I’ll be busy teaching a class on web-marketing, tonight’s moderator will be Lindsey “Too Awesome For Adjectives” Simerly. Because she has one of those job-things, Live chat will start sometime between 5:30pm and 6pm.

Don’t worry, Lindsey will rule the chat-room with the same heavy-handedness you’ve come to expect from me. :-)

The agenda and supporting documentation can be found here. For the complete multimedia experience, be sure to turn on your TV to Charter Cable Channel 11. (As of this post, there is no web-streaming of council meetings.)

Newcomers and first-time chatters should follow this link to get up-to-date with the guidelines for LiveChat.

Please, please, PLEASE follow that last link and read the entire post before you complain “chat doesn’t work for me.”

Remember: Councilman Smith has absolutely NO control (editorial or otherwise) over this liveblogging event. Any observations, opinions, humor, etc. are solely the responsibility of the person making them.

Below is the chat-box. Simply click “start” once Lindsey turns it on sometime between 5:30pm and 6pm.

Have fun everyone.

- pvh

* Everybody defined as: “People who love civics and local politics.”

Comments (0)

After the jump you’ll find a rundown of what’s on tap for Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Click here to go to the City’s website and see the agenda with supporting documentation.

Read More→

Comments (10)
Mar
04

Have Faith

Posted by: Michael Muller | Comments (13)
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Cross-posted from Jon Elliston’s report today in the Mountain XPress:

At a press conference this morning, an interfaith group of more than two dozen local religious leaders issued a “statement of appreciation” backing Asheville City Council’s recent vote in support of establishing same-sex domestic-partner benefits for city employees.

Standing on the steps outside First Congregational United Church of Christ, the church’s senior pastor, the Rev. Joe Hoffman, opened the conference. “This is an important step towards being a more just city for all of our people,” he said in reference to the Council vote. “And we want the City Council to know that we are grateful, and that we stand with them in this action.

“We are not here today to debate anyone’s religious views; rather, we see this as an issue of civil rights,” he continued. “Equal compensation for same-gender couples is a just measure [for] city workers and for Asheville. … We hope more people will become comfortable with this decision as they come to learn about it, and as they reflect on the fairness it promotes.”

Hoffman then read the group’s prepared statement:

“We, the leaders of a number of faith communities in Asheville, express our personal appreciation for the leadership and foresight of the Asheville City Council in proposing and moving toward a positive vote for domestic-partner benefits for city employees who are in same-gender relationships. As faith leaders, we are aware that the passage of this measure is significant to many members of our congregations, regardless of sexual orientation.

“We conclude that despite varying religious views about homosexuality, a civil society should work toward fairness and equitable compensation for everyone in the community, including public workers. Providing domestic-partner benefits for city employees who are in same-gender committed relationships contributes toward this goal and creates a stronger, family-supporting community, of which we are proud to be a part.”

Hoffman was followed by the Rev. Todd Donatelli from the Cathedral of All Souls, who started by noting how various city departments have aided his church and how committed city staff are to enhancing life in Asheville. “As citizens who benefit from the quality of life that these folks work to serve and protect, it is also our obligation to provide them with benefits as citizens and to serve and protect those benefits for all persons.”

Rabbi Rob Cabelli from Beth Israel Synagogue also spoke in support of the Council vote, as did the Ethical Society of Asheville’s Jackie Simms, the Rev. Byron Ballard, High Priestess Mother of Grove Goddess Temple, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville’s Rev. Mark Ward (see below for a list of the statement’s signatories.)

The press conference came on the heels of another conference called Feb. 10, where several a few local ministers blasted Council for its vote. (click here to see Xpress’ report and video from that conference.)

Here’s the list of the statement of appreciation signatories, as of March 13:

  1. The Rev. Jim Abbott, Rector, St. Matthias Episcopal Church
  2. Rev. Byron Ballard, High Priestess Mother Grove Goddess Temple
  3. Rev. Bill Buchanan, Associate Minister, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
  4. Rabbi Rob Cabelli, Beth Israel Synagogue
  5. The Rev. Brian Cole, Cathedral of All Souls Episcopal
  6. The Very Rev. Todd Donatelli, Cathedral of All Souls Episcopal
  7. Rev. David Eck, Pastor, Abiding Savior Lutheran Church
  8. Rev. Dr. Paul Hamilton Fuller, IV, Episcopal, The Church of the Advocate
  9. Rev. Howard Hanger, Minister of Ritual, JUBILEE! Community
  10. Rev. Amanda Hendler-Voss, Co Pastor, Land of the Sky United Church of Christ
  11. Rev. Joe Hoffman, Senior Minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ
  12. Rev. Joyce Hollyday, Co-Pastor, Circle of Mercy
  13. The Rev. Deacon Bill Jamieson, The Micah Institute
  14. Katherine Kowal, Clerk, Asheville Friend’s Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
  15. Rabbi Batsheva Meiri, Congregation Beth Ha-Tephila
  16. Rev. Gabrielle Michel, Minister, Unity Church, West Asheville
  17. Rev. Anne Morgan, New Hope Presbyterian Church
  18. The Rev. Brent Norris, Rector, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
  19. Rev. Michael Poulos, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
  20. Rev. Mark Ramsey, Senior Minister, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
  21. The Rev. Canon Austin K. Rios, La Capilla de Santa Maria, Episcopal Church
  22. Rev. Steve Runholt, Minister, Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church
  23. Rev. Ken Sehested, Circle of Mercy
  24. Jackie Simms, Ethical Society of Asheville
  25. Rev. Shannon Spencer, Associate Minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ
  26. Rev. Margaret LaMotte Torrence, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
  27. Rev. Mark Ward, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville
  28. Rev. Sara Wilcox, Co-Pastor, Land of the Sky United Church of Christ

Comments (13)
Mar
04

All Ears #8

Posted by: Gordon Smith | Comments (6)

It’s Thursday, Asheville, and that means it’s time for a fresh installment of All Ears. In an effort to create ease of access to government, I’m opening this thread for all of your Asheville concerns. Whether it’s budget deficits or a better mousetrap, leave your observations, visions, rants, and gushy love letters here. Tell your friends that there’s a new way to interact with your City Council.

Comments (6)
Mar
01

Pee en Zee

Posted by: Gordon Smith | Comments (48)

The Planning and Zoning Board plays a very important role in our city’s development review process. In addition to reviewing projects to ensure they meet our city’s Unified Development Ordinance, they also review projects that are requesting zoning changes (like the current MHO affordable housing effort, known as Larchmont). As we move nearer passage of the Downtown Master Plan, P&Z may be the final say for nearly every project built downtown. They’re all volunteers who put a lot of time and effort into Asheville.

In considering candidates for the Board, I was looking for people who were able to understand, interpret, and apply the UDO. During interviews, that’s what I asked the candidates about. In the end, that left me settled on Mark Brooks and Joe Minicozzi. There were other candidates with great skills, but Joe and Mark seemed to me to be the folks who would best be able to faithfully execute the planning document.

The Mountain Xpress has a story on the Board Appointments here. It’s stirred up a debate over the future of an appointed board with an enormous responsibility. In retrospect, I wish I’d done the vote a little differently and asked for a discussion period rather than simply going around and naming our choices. The learning curve is an unforgiving mistress.

Because this thread has the possibility of going completely off the rails, I’m going to ask all you Hooligans to keep a couple of things in mind – 1) Keep it factual; 2) Remember that all of us, even when we disagree, want a better Asheville.

Comments (48)
Feb
26

All Ears #7

Posted by: Gordon Smith | Comments (3)

Yesterday got away from me, and I forgot to put up a new All Ears thread. Here it is…

In an effort to create ease of access to government, I’m opening this thread for all of your Asheville concerns. Whether it’s school days or mountain haze, leave your observations, visions, rants, and gushy love letters here. Tell your friends that there’s a new way to interact with your City Council.

Comments (3)

conversationHas seemingly never-ending cold weather been getting you down? Join us today at 5pm for warm real-time observation, toasty policy discussion, and heated pithy comments as we liveblog tonight’s Asheville City Council meeting.

The agenda and supporting documentation can be found here. For the complete multimedia experience, be sure to turn on your TV to Charter Cable Channel 11. (As of this post, there is no web-streaming of council meetings.)

Here are the standard quidelines:

1) Facebook Logins are not required to chat. However, those who opt not to use a Facebook login will find their comments delayed since all text will be placed into a moderation queue. Remember: Even with Facebook Login, initially your first few comments may take a few minutes to show up as it makes it’s way through the moderation queue the first time. Once you are a trusted user, this delay will be removed.

2) If you have problems with chat that are _NOT_ related to: “My comment isn’t showing up immediately”, then fire an email to brainshrub@gmail.com.

3) You don’t have to agree with, or even like, members of City Council or fellow chatters. Just don’t be a jerk. If you need to know what will get you banned, refer to the ScrutinyHooligans comment policy and/or this earlier chat post where I spelled out what is acceptable.

For those of you too lazy to follow links, here’s the template example:

    Gallant: “I disagree with Councilperson Bluster’s proposal to tax petrulli oil. I find it socialistic, unchristian, and against the Founding Fathers wishes. Also, I feel Bluster cares more about developers than the citizens of Asheville. Bluster is a mean, shortsighted person.” (Gallant will not be banned for these kinds of statements.)
    Goofus: “I saw Bluster cheating on her spouse last night. Also, here is a link to a pornographic website. And by the way, I have several mean things to say about another person not on council because I have a personal grudge against them. I advocate violence. Ha Ha! Isn’t it funny how I made a violent/racist comment? Oh, hey, I’m just kidding … so I think that makes it okay.” (Goofus will be hit hard with this mighty tool.)

4) Please don’t copy + paste tons of text from other sites into the chat window. If you have a point to make that requires a reference to another article – then limit yourself to a few sentences and a link.

5) Councilman Smith has absolutely NO control (editorial or otherwise) over this liveblogging event. Any observations, opinions, humor, etc. are solely the responsibility of the person making them.

That’s it. Below is the chat-box. Simply click “start” after 5pm. (You won’t see a “start” button until 5pm.)

Comments (0)
Feb
19

The Fate Of Gay Conservatism

Posted by: Michael Muller | Comments (1)

David Boze, Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute:

“It seems to me, that for the past 70 years or so, conservatives…have opposed the demands for liberation and equal rights by Jews, Blacks, Women, and Gay People. And now, Republicans wonder why they don’t get many votes from those groups. The good news is, that once each struggle for civil rights has been clearly won, conservatives accept it and insist that, in fact, they never opposed it.”

“After a generation of insisting that a mother’s place is in the home, conservatives spent 2008 declaring that the right place for a mother of five, one of them pregnant and one a newborn with special needs, is next-door to the Oval Office. But the Civil Rights struggle of our own time is that of gay and lesbian people and conservatives are still performing their traditional role of opposing it.”

I hope you’ll listen to the truly fascinating discussion over at The Daily Dish. Because as we’ve learned around here recently, you don’t have to be a Republican to be a bigot. Or even a white man.

Click over the jump for Tuesday’s agenda, for which the theme will be annexation. Click here to see the agenda with all supporting documents at the City of Asheville’s website.

Read More→

Comments (29)
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