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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 1d

Manheimer even put Noem first on the list in her thanks.

From city hall's own press release.

Not for the first time, Asheville city government is absolutely fine with fascism. #avlgov #avlnews

“On behalf of the City of Asheville, I want to thank Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for obligating critical funds to support our community’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. We are deeply grateful to our partners at FEMA, the State, as well as Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, and Congressman Chuck Edwards, for their continued advocacy and support of Asheville.” — Mayor Esther Manheimer

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 1d

As with so much else, "resilient" is largely being treated just as a buzzword among those in power in Asheville. Vast majority of rebuilding that's going up is just like it was before and a lot of people are going to suffer for it the next time there's a serious storm. And there will be.

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 14d

From the extensive experience of our journalism co-op, a refusal to face reality is the defining trait of Asheville elites.

That is glaringly obvious in the aftermath of Helene. #avlnews

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 14d

Heavy on my mind as the anniversary of Helene approaches: I do not think the "rebuild everything exactly as it was, exactly where it was" approach from those in power is going to work out as well as they think.

Inevitably, it's the rest of us who will pay the cost. #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 2d

Well this is disgusting (and something that local airport management would have to sign off on).

Asheville city council and Buncombe county commissioners appoint the airport's governing board. #avlnews #avlgov

Sexy CHOAM Nomsky costume @samthielman.com · 3d

At the Asheville regional airport. Fuck these people.

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 2d

Well this is disgusting (and something that local airport management would have to sign off on).

Asheville city council and Buncombe county commissioners appoint the airport's governing board. #avlnews #avlgov

Sexy CHOAM Nomsky costume @samthielman.com · 3d

At the Asheville regional airport. Fuck these people.

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 4d

If you want to hear the dulcet, ancient dyke tones of my voice making fun of local police propaganda (and good lord does Asheville have a lot of it) here you go.

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 6d

Our latest A Word About Our City segment, in collaboration with Asheville Community News on @ashevillefm.bsky.social, is now up on our patreon.

We look at the sudden departure of yet another police chief, and how it contradicts city hall's propaganda #avlnews

www.patreon.com/posts/word-a...

A Word About Our City: Exit Chief Lamb | The Asheville Blade

www.patreon.com

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 5d

Source: October 2025 rental rate report from Apartment List. #avlnews

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 5d

Make of this what one will, but rents in the Asheville area are down 6% since Helene.

This coincides with a major drop (20%) in the number of airbnbs/vacation rentals, long a major driver of the local housing crisis. #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 6d

Our latest A Word About Our City segment, in collaboration with Asheville Community News on @ashevillefm.bsky.social, is now up on our patreon.

We look at the sudden departure of yet another police chief, and how it contradicts city hall's propaganda #avlnews

www.patreon.com/posts/word-a...

A Word About Our City: Exit Chief Lamb | The Asheville Blade

www.patreon.com

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 6d

Our latest A Word About Our City segment, in collaboration with Asheville Community News on @ashevillefm.bsky.social, is now up on our patreon.

We look at the sudden departure of yet another police chief, and how it contradicts city hall's propaganda #avlnews

www.patreon.com/posts/word-a...

A Word About Our City: Exit Chief Lamb | The Asheville Blade

www.patreon.com

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 8d

There is some sign that this wave may be peaking, as the rate of increase has slowed in the past few weeks.

But leaf season's also just around the corner and there's already a lot of infections out there.

The more we take this seriously and help each other, the better off we'll all be. #avlnews

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 8d

This means it's a really good idea to stay home when you can, wear an N95 mask in public and test before meeting people outside your household. Get the updated shot any way you can. Use mitigations like nasal sprays and air purifiers... #avlnews

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 8d

Driven by newer strains, seasonal increase in tourism and delusional fascists at the federal level hampering the updated vaccine rollout, covid infections are now widespread across our communities... #avlnews

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 8d

Unfortunately, amid the multiple crises our city is in, covid isn't taking a break.

Due to the latest public health data showing a rampant level of spread over the past few weeks, the Blade is raising the local risk level in the Asheville area to CATASTROPHIC. 🧵 #avlnews

A graphic showing covid virus in wastewater rates on a chart rising above a red line labeled "catastrophic."

An Asheville Blade graphic with CATASTROPHIC RISK highlighted, including precautions to stay home whenever you can, wear an N95 in public situations and test before meeting those outside your household

An Asheville Blade graphic of mitigations, including running an air purifier, using nasal spray, wearing an N95 and rinsing with mouthwash

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

If the storm taught anything, it is that hard realities do not go away because those with wealth and power want them to.

But it also taught that we, the rest of us, are far stronger than we know. There is hope in that. #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

Helene was a natural disaster. Far too many of the crises in its aftermath are thoroughly manmade... #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

A year later, the firefighters whose heroism was so widely praised are badly underpaid, but there's plenty of money for police to harass the homeless. Helene survivors live out of tents while glossy tv segments shout from the largest mansion in America that wealthy tourists are welcome back #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

A massively overdeveloped riverfront, a neglected water system, paltry rental aid, the segregation of public housing, governments that viewed climate change as a p.r. point rather than a threat to be taken seriously. And more, too many more to list here.

All made Helene's devastation worse #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

Memorials that are sincere grapplings with the grief and trauma we all face happen alongside ceremonial pushes to sanitize the realities of what happened, the realities we're still in.

The storm itself was beyond any person's control. Decisions by elites made it far worse than it had to be #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

Ruins still litter the area. There are locals, homes washed away by the storm or evicted in its aftermath, still living out of their cars. The same landlords who are posting "Asheville Strong!" have kicked out so many that were the true source of our city's strength... #avlnews

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Reposted by The Asheville Blade

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 10d

Thread. A year ago today phone, internet and the water system had collapsed. Some trusted friends and I were spending the day getting water to those who needed it, and confirming some elders in our communities were still alive.

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

One year ago the people of this area faced the disaster of Helene. While government officials disappeared, locals banded together to keep each other safe. They saved countless lives and prevented untold misery.

Today we still face a crisis after the crisis.

It is a surreal anniversary... #avlnews

A photo of Asheville's river district buried in floodwater, taken on Sept. 27, 2024

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

If the storm taught anything, it is that hard realities do not go away because those with wealth and power want them to.

But it also taught that we, the rest of us, are far stronger than we know. There is hope in that. #avlnews

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

Helene was a natural disaster. Far too many of the crises in its aftermath are thoroughly manmade... #avlnews

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

A year later, the firefighters whose heroism was so widely praised are badly underpaid, but there's plenty of money for police to harass the homeless. Helene survivors live out of tents while glossy tv segments shout from the largest mansion in America that wealthy tourists are welcome back #avlnews

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The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 11d

A massively overdeveloped riverfront, a neglected water system, paltry rental aid, the segregation of public housing, governments that viewed climate change as a p.r. point rather than a threat to be taken seriously. And more, too many more to list here.

All made Helene's devastation worse #avlnews

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