The Asheville Blade
@avlblade.bsky.social
Sharp journalism, analysis and perspectives without fear. Leftist news co-op based in Asheville.
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Background photo by Max Cooper
Read our work at: https://ashevilleblade.com
Support us and subscribe at: https://patreon.com/AvlBlade
Background photo by Max Cooper
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The Asheville Blade
@avlblade.bsky.social
· Dec 11
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Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Remembering how Asheville city hall teargassed anti-racist marches with children — repeatedly — in 2020, and arrested our journalists for covering their crackdown on a homeless camp on christmas night 2020, and thinking about all the steps that got us here. All the warning signs ignored by too many.
February 1, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Remembering how Asheville city hall teargassed anti-racist marches with children — repeatedly — in 2020, and arrested our journalists for covering their crackdown on a homeless camp on christmas night 2020, and thinking about all the steps that got us here. All the warning signs ignored by too many.
Downtown Asheville hasn't had this much snow in years. Temps frigid at 12 degrees, wind chill -6. We're not getting above freezing until Monday. #avlnews
January 31, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Downtown Asheville hasn't had this much snow in years. Temps frigid at 12 degrees, wind chill -6. We're not getting above freezing until Monday. #avlnews
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Thread on how Asheville's non-profit complex played a key role in crushing the 2020 uprising and restoring the status quo.
An example that's on my mind: in 2020 Asheville city hall was badly losing the uprising. They'd enraged the public by teargassing anti-racist demos and attacking a medic station. The mayor declared an unpopular curfew. The cops could no longer hold the streets.
So the non-profit complex swept in...
So the non-profit complex swept in...
One of the purposes of non-profit complex orgs is to gatekeep, deter and co-opt organizing, especially when it's militant and working.
So if you suddenly see polished posts by "otg" groups using social justice jargon to demand people abandon wildly successful tactics, it's worth being skeptical.
So if you suddenly see polished posts by "otg" groups using social justice jargon to demand people abandon wildly successful tactics, it's worth being skeptical.
January 18, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Thread on how Asheville's non-profit complex played a key role in crushing the 2020 uprising and restoring the status quo.
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Attorney Seth Starns reminds us that liberals have paved the way for fascist attacks on press freedom, citing the recent precedent set here in Asheville, NC against the @avlblade.bsky.social.
@seth-stern.bsky.social: "We shouldn’t give the Trump administration too much credit for creativity—their playbooks have been tested outside of the national headlines in places like Asheville."
The arrest of Don Lemon is blatant censorship. And he is not the only one | Seth Stern
Thursday’s arrests of Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort demonstrate the administration’s lawless crusade against routine journalism
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Attorney Seth Starns reminds us that liberals have paved the way for fascist attacks on press freedom, citing the recent precedent set here in Asheville, NC against the @avlblade.bsky.social.
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Meeting adjourned. To support this live local government coverage (and everything @avlblade.bsky.social does), subscribe: patreon.com/AvlBlade
Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade
Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade
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January 27, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Meeting adjourned. To support this live local government coverage (and everything @avlblade.bsky.social does), subscribe: patreon.com/AvlBlade
Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade
Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Speaker's asserting that interim APD chief Jackie Stepp's "proactive" enforcement is mostly harassing and attacking locals in the name of "crime prevention," compares it to ICE crackdowns. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Speaker's asserting that interim APD chief Jackie Stepp's "proactive" enforcement is mostly harassing and attacking locals in the name of "crime prevention," compares it to ICE crackdowns. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Open public comment. First speaker says city "becoming more sanitized" in interests of the wealthy, using "pain from Helene" as marketing copy for investors. Says they've repeatedly faced harassment from the Asheville police. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Open public comment. First speaker says city "becoming more sanitized" in interests of the wealthy, using "pain from Helene" as marketing copy for investors. Says they've repeatedly faced harassment from the Asheville police. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Notable is that city hall often touts these grants as showing they're doing something about affordable housing, when it's federal funds and they legally can't use them for anything else #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Notable is that city hall often touts these grants as showing they're doing something about affordable housing, when it's federal funds and they legally can't use them for anything else #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
* meeting, not morning. It is, unusually, a morning meeting.
January 27, 2026 at 5:12 PM
* meeting, not morning. It is, unusually, a morning meeting.
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Starting new thread for the rest of the Asheville city council morning. They're currently signing off on federal housing grant funds they administer. #avlgov
Next speaker is an AARP rep, and also supports allowing more accessory units.
Change passes 6-0. #avlgov
Change passes 6-0. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Starting new thread for the rest of the Asheville city council morning. They're currently signing off on federal housing grant funds they administer. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Last public hearing would allow more accessory dwelling units by not requiring them to go through aa extensive a process.
This would not cover new construction, just conversiom of existing structures. #avlgov
This would not cover new construction, just conversiom of existing structures. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Last public hearing would allow more accessory dwelling units by not requiring them to go through aa extensive a process.
This would not cover new construction, just conversiom of existing structures. #avlgov
This would not cover new construction, just conversiom of existing structures. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Pretty frequently, economic incentive deals here are also clear as mud. As is too often the case they're not even naming the company ("Project Vessel" is an alias). County government's massive giveaways to Raytheon are probably the most prominent example. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Pretty frequently, economic incentive deals here are also clear as mud. As is too often the case they're not even naming the company ("Project Vessel" is an alias). County government's massive giveaways to Raytheon are probably the most prominent example. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
On to public hearings. First is $35,000 in tax incentives for "Project Vessel" manufacturing development.
Nearly twice what would have covered those raises for new firefighters. But, well, they're just saving lives, not wealthy business owners, so city hall doesn't really care about them. #avlgov
Nearly twice what would have covered those raises for new firefighters. But, well, they're just saving lives, not wealthy business owners, so city hall doesn't really care about them. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:24 PM
On to public hearings. First is $35,000 in tax incentives for "Project Vessel" manufacturing development.
Nearly twice what would have covered those raises for new firefighters. But, well, they're just saving lives, not wealthy business owners, so city hall doesn't really care about them. #avlgov
Nearly twice what would have covered those raises for new firefighters. But, well, they're just saving lives, not wealthy business owners, so city hall doesn't really care about them. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Brief report on Black History events. Asheville city hall's proclamations and commemorations of Black history have steadily risen as their gentrification of, and crackdowns on, Black communities has steadily escalated #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Brief report on Black History events. Asheville city hall's proclamations and commemorations of Black history have steadily risen as their gentrification of, and crackdowns on, Black communities has steadily escalated #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Wow, this is despicable. Ullman claims that downtown BID is "economic justice." It's a tax inflicted on the entirety of downtown (including renters and elders on fixed incomes) that goes to a chamber front group dominated by the wealthy. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Wow, this is despicable. Ullman claims that downtown BID is "economic justice." It's a tax inflicted on the entirety of downtown (including renters and elders on fixed incomes) that goes to a chamber front group dominated by the wealthy. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Manheimer claiming BID "ambassadors" represent "reimagining public safety" of alternatives to police.
The BID rep just mentioned the ambassadors are trained by the APD. #avlgov
The BID rep just mentioned the ambassadors are trained by the APD. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Manheimer claiming BID "ambassadors" represent "reimagining public safety" of alternatives to police.
The BID rep just mentioned the ambassadors are trained by the APD. #avlgov
The BID rep just mentioned the ambassadors are trained by the APD. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
BID rep claiming their board is "diverse and representative of all of downtown." It's dominated by the wealthy #avlgov
www.patreon.com/posts/wealth...
www.patreon.com/posts/wealth...
The wealthy and the wealthier: a look at the proposed BID board | The Asheville Blade
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January 27, 2026 at 4:03 PM
BID rep claiming their board is "diverse and representative of all of downtown." It's dominated by the wealthy #avlgov
www.patreon.com/posts/wealth...
www.patreon.com/posts/wealth...
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
Even given that, the BID (the DID is a Business Improvement District intended to benefit those with money and property, it was renamed after aforementioned public outrage) has already acquired a reputation for removing leftist political fliers ans posters and surveilling the homeless. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Even given that, the BID (the DID is a Business Improvement District intended to benefit those with money and property, it was renamed after aforementioned public outrage) has already acquired a reputation for removing leftist political fliers ans posters and surveilling the homeless. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
So Hess is a conservative. Him folding in deference to the status quo ain't surprising.
Roney's running to oust Manheimer in mayoral election. But any time pushing something (the November anti-ICE measure and, now, firefighter pay) involves the slightest bit of conflict, she always folds. #avlgov
Roney's running to oust Manheimer in mayoral election. But any time pushing something (the November anti-ICE measure and, now, firefighter pay) involves the slightest bit of conflict, she always folds. #avlgov
After mayor and others criticize him, Hess isn't pressing forward with the motion to extend raise to newer firefighters. Nor does Roney. Cowardice all around. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:14 PM
So Hess is a conservative. Him folding in deference to the status quo ain't surprising.
Roney's running to oust Manheimer in mayoral election. But any time pushing something (the November anti-ICE measure and, now, firefighter pay) involves the slightest bit of conflict, she always folds. #avlgov
Roney's running to oust Manheimer in mayoral election. But any time pushing something (the November anti-ICE measure and, now, firefighter pay) involves the slightest bit of conflict, she always folds. #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
On to annual report on the "Downtown Improvement District," a chamber front group that gets revenue from a tax imposed on locals in the center of the city. It's intended to gentrify even further, though it's temporarily backed off some of its most openly draconian plans due to public outrage #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 3:52 PM
On to annual report on the "Downtown Improvement District," a chamber front group that gets revenue from a tax imposed on locals in the center of the city. It's intended to gentrify even further, though it's temporarily backed off some of its most openly draconian plans due to public outrage #avlgov
Reposted by The Asheville Blade
After mayor and others criticize him, Hess isn't pressing forward with the motion to extend raise to newer firefighters. Nor does Roney. Cowardice all around. #avlgov
January 27, 2026 at 3:49 PM
After mayor and others criticize him, Hess isn't pressing forward with the motion to extend raise to newer firefighters. Nor does Roney. Cowardice all around. #avlgov