City of Asheville Economy and Finances
By · CommentsHere’s a handy, informative powerpoint that illustrates our many challenges and opportunities as a city.
Area Republican Leader Stands Up For #AVLH2O
By · CommentsA former Asheville city councilman and Republican congressional candidate who’s chastised his party before for not sticking to its principles, Mumpower now says he’s flat out leaving to become an independent, if and when control of the city’s water department is transferred to the Metropolitan Sewerage District.
[...]
“This is not anything more than stealing Asheville’s water system,” Mumpower said. “I don’t care what people say or how complicated they try to make it, it’s just theft through our legislature, and that’s wrong. And this was a way to fight back.”
[...]
But here’s what’s even more perplexing to Mumpower: How come no other Republicans are complaining, when the move seems so obviously counter to GOP philosophy?“Nobody in the party infrastructure has said, ‘Hey, you guys are in direct opposition to what we’re supposed to be about: small government, government closest to the people,’” Mumpower said. “You’re just using traditional power politics, and you haven’t been in office that long.”
[...]
I doubt a lot of Republicans have warm, familial feelings for Mumpower, who’s been a burr under the saddle for years.But they at least ought to think about the point he’s trying to make.
Frequently…
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Another request for all of my Hooligan friends—-
if you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to mySynd, the self-syndication project that I started a month or so ago.
$5 a month gets you everything that comes off of my drawing board, whether it is destined for the Citizen-Times, Gannett national distribution, or the far reaches of your funny bone.
Here is the PayPal link—
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Thanks!
ALEC Explained in 5 Minutes
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As Reps. Tim Moffitt and Thom Tillis enjoy the fine dining in Oklahoma City, here’s some more info from the YouTube page on what else they’re doing there:
Published on Apr 30, 2012DISCLAIMER: The ONLY inaccuracy in this video is the reference to tanning beds. As far as I now know, the ALEC scholarship fund has not paid for any legislator to sit in a damn tanning bed – that said, everything else is 100% factual. I should have said ‘guided tours’ of surrounding areas, since that has been offered, and is similarly very vacation-oriented. Hope you enjoy
Gone Pirating
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Argh, mateys! Be ye looking for more prime public goods to pillage and plunder? Widows and orphans t’rob and leave a-wailin’, and no quarter given?
Well, me hearties, Oklahoma City is the place for ye this week. The pirate horde from ALEC can show ye the way to the motherload. Savvy…?
WRAL reports:
As House lawmakers debated whether to halve the number of North Carolina children eligible for free pre-kindergarten, several key members were missing from the chamber.House Speaker Thom Tillis, Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, and Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, left early Thursday to attend the ALEC Spring Task Force meeting in Oklahoma City, scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Aye, the liquid gold is on its way to Piker Pat, so Timmeh and the lads have gone ashore in search of more booty.
But what? Ye left Bootlick Bill behind to strip the King Tim’s Revenge to the bilges while yer ashore? Tis a foul wind a blowin’ in Blackbeard’s lair.
ACTION on #AVLH2O – Gov. McCrory
By · CommentsThis hit my inbox yesterday, and I thought I’d share it here:
Despite the sincere appeals from many of you, and the principled arguments made by representatives of the City of Asheville, the NC General Assembly has passed House Bill 488, the “Regionalization of Public Utilities”.
The main intent of this bill is to forcibly remove control of the Asheville water system and pristine 22,000 acre watershed from Asheville’s elected officials, and put it in the hands of an unelected Board controlled by the State. The studies have all been finalized: there will be no economic benefit to ratepayers from transferring control of Asheville’s water, there will be no “efficiencies” gained – this is about wrenching control of water from the people into the hands of the State.
The threat of privatization of this vital resource still exists, and the threat to make this the first of many such seizures across the State still exists. We need to take a stand now just as was done last November when 86% of Asheville voters expressed opposition to the sale or lease of the water system. To date, over 50 municipalities in North Carolina have passed resolutions opposing the forced transfer of local government infrastructure.
Our best hope to derail this ill-advised juggernaut lies with NC Governor Pat McCrory. As a former Mayor himself, he has to see that the State seizure of municipal assets is a terrible idea. What City or Town will make investments and improvements in their infrastructure (the kind that Asheville has recently made in their water system), once the precedent has been set that if one greedy neighbor wants your assets, the State may step in and take them? This is what is happening to Asheville.
Please take the time to send an email to Governor Pat McCrory.
Or give his office a call (919) 733-5811. As always: be polite, don’t attack the bill sponsors, be persuasive. Mention “Asheville Water” or the “Regionalization of Public Utilities” bill. Should the bill reach his desk, ask him to please Veto!
For more info & other ways you can help, you can always visit SaveOurWaterWNC.com
Thanks for speaking up for safe, publicly-controlled drinking water!
Barry & the whole crew at Save Our Water WNC
Busy, Busy, Busy
By · CommentsThe Independent of Raleigh reports that Rep. Tim Moffitt has been busy, busy, busy:
Loaded lawmakers: An email came over the transom from the office of Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, announcing he and and Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, are hosting a Concealed Carry course for interested legislators and staff later this month…
Moffitt and his past House Select Committee on Public-Private Partnerships (P3) co-chair, public infrastructure privatizer, and traveling companion (Turkey), Bill Brawley of Mecklenburg (and ALEC), is also a sponsor of another bill, along with a couple of other legislators.
Speaking of meddling, HB 773 would dismantle Durham’s Proactive Rental Inspection Program (PRIP). And you guessed it, the bill isn’t sponsored by anyone from Durham: Republicans Tim Moffitt (see nipples, handguns and the takeover of the Asheville water system), Bill Brawley of Mecklenburg (he’s also a commercial real estate broker), Jon Hardister of Guilford and Bill Brisson of Bladen.
PRIP requires inspections of rental units with at least three housing code violations and, according to the Independent, “helps keeps tabs on slumlords, protects renters and allows responsible landlords to maintain their property values.”
Can’t have that.
What will that scamp do for the people of western Buncombe County next?
[h/t theotherbarry]
