Matilda Bliss

Ironically, attorney Ben Scales, who's represented a lot of protesters (and, full disclosure: represented Blade journalists) won a local judge's seat tonight.

So it's clear that prosecuting journalists and activists didn't go over well with the public. #avlgov

In the DA's race Martin Moore defeated Courtney Booth and Katie Kurdys. Both Moore and Booth ran as more progressive than current DA. Kurdys was kbown for prosecuting mutual aid workers (and Blade journalists) and ran more conservative. She came in a distant third. #avlgov

Graphic with an image of David Moritz and Jared Wheatley in line for a 2024 Trump rally, with the words "Two city council candidates have record of far-right bigotry" followed bythe subhed: "David Moritz and Jared Wheatley are running for office, hiding an extensive history of racism and Islamophobia

Developers David Moritz and Jared Wheatley are running for Asheville city council. But behind their attempts to rebrand as housing advocates lurks an extensive history of open racism and Islamophobia. Locals should know the truth.

Our latest: ashevilleblade.com?p=5379 #avlnews #avlgov

So, all precincts are in, and here's how the incredibly crowded Asheville city council field played out. We'll have a bit on a few of the other races.

In short, the incumbents are weak, though still weren't eliminated, but don't expect much different from who might replace them. #avlgov #avlnews

Via the capital projects presentation:

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Meeting adjourned. To support this live coverage (and everything else @avlblade.bsky.social does) subscribe: patreon.com/AvlBlade #avlgov #avlnews

Next speaker criticizes cost and threat posed by Asheville city hall's extensive drone and surveillance programs (including the infamously ICE-friendly Flock) and wants some of the cuts to come from that #avlgov

With the estimated budget gap, Asheville city hall's looking at ramping up austerity even further. Expect no cuts to what's really siphoning up cash (bloated salaries for higher-ups, bloated police department) but they'll tax locals more and cut already-struggling services #avlgov

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Handing things over to @davidforbes.bsky.social to cover the public comment period.

Thanks for supporting the Asheville Blade.

You can always support our work with a one time donation: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade

And ongoing support is essential. Subscribe at patreon.com/avlblade #avlgov

In FY 2026-2027, expect the cops to get another increase, because you know, police state is sacred to #avlgov. Yada yada

City staff promises, "Revenue increases...and reductions in spending."

Yep.

Onto first FY 2026-2027 budget presentation and public comment period.

Same scheme as ever: high level city staff will get much richer, services (such as transit) will get cut, & impoverished BIPOC communities (especially) will get taxed more heavily. Add some ranting about Helene recovery #avlgov

Not surprisingly, no one comments for the public hearing. Hearing closed and there's no vote tonight.

Onto Aston Park Tennis Center rate increases public hearing. Approved unanimously. #avlgov

Manager's report concludes after discussion of use of Helene recovery funds.

Onto consolidated plan amendment to "add affordable rental construction" (but this is mostly just propaganda to make it look like they care about upending the local housing crisis). #avlgov

Councilmember Kim Roney talking asking about pothole repairs. #Avlgov is blaming state government on putting roadblocks in the way of repairing enough potholes.

For years, city hall has blamed state government for a host of issues, but still, they do not maintain the roads like they should.

#avlgov bsky.app/profile/avlb...

You don't have to look far to see the ghoulishness of #avlgov and its top officials.

Capitol projects overview now happening. Noticeable jump in use of funds for the McCormick Field renovations approved two years ago to the tune of $38 million that benefits the DeWine family and it's far right governor Mike DeWine ashevilleblade.com?p=4946 #avlgov

#avlgov bsky.app/profile/davi...

Government staff start manager's report by reviewing revenue and expenses. They note continued lag in sales tax revenue and the police department overspending to pay the staff it's trying to bring on (despite already allocating them $35 million to make life hell for impoverished locals) #avlgov

#avlgov bsky.app/profile/davi...

Councilmember Bo Hess is calling attention to Item J in the consent agenda allowing donations to the Fire Department. This is while #avlgov still refuses to pay them a living wage.

Consent agenda approved. Onto manager's report.

Mayor Esther "Teargas" Manheimer is reading a proclamation noting Black history month after greenlighting the teargassing of anti-racist protests in 2020 and supporting every police department increase since (all while raising property taxes disproportionately felt by Black communities) #avlgov

Mayor Manheimer is reading a statement about why she is quelling conduct such as clapping during meetings.

But she only gets on the case of the audience when they're supporting causes that she doesn't like, such as ending the genocide in Palestine. ashevilleblade.com?p=4964 #avlgov

The meeting is live. #Avlgov is pledging allegiance to the fascist regime.

Hey yall, we're still waiting on #Avlgov to start its meeting. Here's the video link when they do: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz7F...

Asheville city council meeting starts at 5 p.m. @matildabliss.bsky.social and @davidforbes.bsky.social will cover live.

Main item: initial public input on the budget, where city hall will pointedly ignore any feedback not from the gentry #avlgov #avlnews

Agenda: www.ashevillenc.gov/government/c...

Epstein Backed ‘Billionaires’ Dinner’ Network of Prominent Anti-Trans Figures Lawrence Krauss, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and other anti-trans influencers personally benefited from a right-wing academic social group backed by infamous human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, somet...

You’re not crazy. The anti-trans movement is not organic; it was funded by pedophilic billionaires like Jeffrey Epstein who backed a network of conservatives to accuse the same people they were sexually abusing of being the real danger. @madycast.com exposes the truth in our in-depth report.

Please support my friend by sharing this post and donating. She’s trying to do everything that she can to raise this money and keep her vision, and we should absolutely do all that we can to show up for her!

Telling moment from last night's Asheville city council meeting. When cops (and most city officials) use terms like "community" they mean the gentry and well-off tourists. The APD are not popular among the broader public here, to put it mildly.

Like this was not that long ago. #avlnews

Speaker is against ICE, talking about horrors they've unleashed in multiple cities.

"Is city of Asheville willing to go on the record, through legislation or statement," protecting locals from ICE. "Cities do have control of properties, power and oversight." Need to shut down Flock cameras. #avlgov