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Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 4h

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Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 4h

Thanks for following tonight's coverage of the #avlgov city council meeting. However terrible this govt is, it's good to recognize the fissures between elected officials & the clear oversteps by the local gentry when they occur.

May we make our city ever less hospitable to fascists big and small.

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Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 4h

Mayoral candidate Roney speaks to wave of fascism from federal officials.

"Asking us to do what we can is exactly" what is needed.

Thanks locals who are speaking up.

Manheimer, who recently explicitly thanked the fascist Kristi Noem, adjourns the meeting without comment #avlgov

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Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 4h

Next commenter also addressing local ICE activity. Speaks of friend's Brown child being asked to carry identification on him at all times in order to prevent kidnappings by ICE agents.

"It's profiling. It's racism."

"It makes me sad to call Asheville home." #avlgov

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Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 4h

Commenter asks #avlgov if they "have one thing to say about" what city hall will do to prevent people posing as ICE agents from kidnapping locals. Manheimer scolds him for asking questions.

"Every single one of yall is a disgrace," says commenter.

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Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 4h

Next commenter: "I hope you're getting the real news."

Asks what #avlgov is doing to protect locals from fascist feds violating due process right specifically.

"ICE is in your town. I know yall know that."

"You're police officers are supposed to ask [masked ICE agents] for identification."

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Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 5h

Thanks @davidforbes.bsky.social

Still on open public comment, Nina Tovish asks #avlgov to clarify how its determining who will be brought onto the Helene Recovery Board.

"I think it would be great for the public to see how you all work."

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Turning things over to @matildabliss.bsky.social to cover this last stretch of the Asheville city council meeting. #avlgov

To support this live coverage, and everything else @avlblade.bsky.social does, subscribe: patreon.com/AvlBlade

Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade

creating hard-hitting journalism

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 4h

Manheimer recently openly thanked Kristi Noem in an official city statement. It is indeed a disgrace. #avlgov

Matilda Bliss @matildabliss.bsky.social · 4h

Commenter asks #avlgov if they "have one thing to say about" what city hall will do to prevent people posing as ICE agents from kidnapping locals. Manheimer scolds him for asking questions.

"Every single one of yall is a disgrace," says commenter.

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Turning things over to @matildabliss.bsky.social to cover this last stretch of the Asheville city council meeting. #avlgov

To support this live coverage, and everything else @avlblade.bsky.social does, subscribe: patreon.com/AvlBlade

Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade

creating hard-hitting journalism

patreon.com

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Even Manheimer seems taken aback, noting that Helene happened after last Kenilworth dam inspection. Dundas advises the Kenilworth locals to contact state authorities or hire an engineer. City manager Debra Campbell claiming that legally it's not their role #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Manheimer claiming "wires got crossed" with staff response to Kenilworth dam problems.

Jade Dundas, asst city manager: in April 2024 city inspection found no issues with the dam.

Which was...before Helene. Seems like #avlgov is, not for the first time, missing the point

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Fisher: "inaction by the city poses a direct threat to residents" and the surrounding area. Dam failure could literally costs lives. #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

On to open public comment. Eric Fisher, Kenilworth Lake preservation association: another flood would be devastating for the city. Kenilworth Lake and dam are essential to flood mitigation, but damaged. City's ignored our concerns and "we're now at a breaking point." #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Manheimer, after the public pushback against the social district proposal, is in favor of delaying it. Continued until Nov. 18. #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Roney pointing out even city hall staff have raised concerns about noise, strain on #avlgov resources, lack of public input. She's against the social district.

Smith wants proposal delayed until Oct. 28 to incorporate proposals Coleman conveyed from the coalition of Black neighborhood groups.

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Mosley calls Hess' racism "embarrassing" and reminds him he doesn't speak for Black communities.

Roney: Social district has too many concerns. Reading statement from AVLFBU, local service workers' union criticizing proposal for lack of worker and local support, infrastructure #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Hess lecturing Black locals who spoke, claiming they should be satisfied with the [incredibly paltry] funds city hall devoted to "reparations."

Wow. He's going openly racist, criticizing level of education, violence within Black communities.

Mosley: "You literally just made something up." #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Had a blip and didn't catch next speaker's name, but she's condemning Asheville city hall's treatment of Black neighborhoods.

"The level of hubris, arrogance and ignorance [from city government) is disgusting."

"We put you in those chairs, we can take you out." #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Worth remembering that when locals — the people who do actually make this city — were demanding rental aid in the aftermath of Helene city hall refused to do it on any scale that mattered. But well-off business owners get the red carpet. #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Coleman wants more coordinatiom of city policy downtown with Black neighborhoods, analysis of equity and community benefit.

"Do better at learning the history of the communities you occupy." Don't just focus on the market. #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Revealing in this is that Asheville city hall sees the town purely in terms of businesse, tourists and the wealthy.

Sekou Coleman, representing legacy neighborhoods' coalition: Concerned about displacement. "City prioritizes people who come here over people who live here" and make the city #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 5h

Public comment on social district. First two commenters are once again business owners, including a rep for Wicked Weed, whose concern for locals' jobs didn't extend to the brewer they fired for criticizing deceased fascist propagandist Charlie Kirk #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 6h

"South Slope" social district up next.

Worth remembering what was touched on in earlier discussion, that "South Slope" is the gentrified name for part of historically Black Southside, where locals were brutally displaced during "urban removal" and redlining: ashevilleblade.com?p=241 #avlgov

Red lines |

ashevilleblade.com

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 6h

Roney tries to make an amendment to relax noise regs more slowly. It doesn't get a second.

Relaxing noise regs passes 4-3. Mosley, Smith and Roney against. Means it'll come back for a second reading Oct. 28. #avlgov

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 6h

Roney also concerned about relaxing noise regs.

Hess claims that "people" are expecting these changes. Only biz owners spoke.

Mosley: "You may believe you help the legacy neighborhoods, but they don't believe that. They believe you do them harm." #avlgov

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