Ashvegas Political Hit List: The Asheville City Hall flag fallout, affordable housing discussion, more

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Ashvegas: The City You Love. The News You Want.By James Harrison

Flag fallout

Well, that didn’t take long. Same-sex marriage became legal in North Carolina a week ago, and lots of people had opinions about it. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and City Council members made theirs clear, unfurling a rainbow flag across City Hall—a move which prompted discussion all over town. Manheimer defended the move, while former city and county officials Carl Mumpower and Chad Nesbitt decried the display and compared it to Nazi propaganda. Believe it or not, those comments drew national attention. And by the end of the week, a group had prayed around a Christian flag on the steps of City Hall, and a local pro-life group was requesting for their banner to be displayed across the historic building.

Rounding up reactions

On the other end of the fallout spectrum, the Charlotte Observer reports that state House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Phil Berger will appeal last week’s decision to strike down the constitutional marriage amendment. Will they do it before next month’s election? That remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Gov. Pat McCrory said he would “enforce the constitution of North Carolina” with regards to the change, even if it goes against his position on the issue. And U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, also a Republican, said U.S. District Court Judge Max Cogburn, who overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, was “most qualified” to be in the position, despite the ruling also going against his personal stance. Burr, along with 96 other senators, supported Cogburn’s appointment to the bench in 2011.

Innovation confirmation

In other council news, this week the group approved the formation of three “Innovation Districts” which were pitched by the mayor in her “State of the City” address earlier this month. The lucky neighborhoods are the River Arts District, South Slope and the Charlotte Street Corridor. According to this Mountain Xpress report, the designation could mean greenways, road improvements, redevelopment of public housing and upgrades to transportation. It’s also worth noting that the report features a photo of council holding a huge trophy, definitely worth a look.

Housing huddle

Most worksessions don’t draw this kind of attention, but more than 50 citizens showed up for a meeting at City Hall Tuesday on the state of affordable housing in Asheville. Carolina Public Press reporter David Forbes was there, and has a detailed recap on the discussion. Talk centered on possible remedies for what some are calling an “ongoing crisis” in a lack of affordable units, with Community Development Director Jeff Staudinger suggesting that the city set a goal of helping to create between 290 and 350 affordable units each year to better address the issue. Expect lots more discussion on this topic in the months ahead.

Leave our smokes alone

The efforts of two European countries to curb smoking drew criticism from the governor of Tobaccoland this week. Responding to proposals in France and Ireland that would restrict cigarette packaging, Gov. Pat McCrory said, “Imaginez que les États-Unis exigent une standardisation des emballages d’alcools.” That basically translates to, “What if we messed with your wine?” No word on if the governor’s comments are being taken seriously overseas.

False advertising

Things are coming down to the wire for the race between state Rep. Tim Moffitt and his Democratic opponent, Brian Turner. Earlier this week, the Citizen-Times took a closer look at campaign advertisements being made by the Turner and Moffitt camps, and found none of the approaches to be that forthright. Considerable attention was also given to where the two candidates reside, where they were schooled, and where they send their kids to school. If those things matter to you.

Gonna need six million more

At this point, who’s counting? The Wall Street Journal reported this week that the National Republican Senatorial Committee plans to dump an additional $6 million into Thom Tillis’ efforts to unseat U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, who’s shown a slight edge over Tillis in several recent polls. Meanwhile, the New York Times is reminding readers of just how exciting our race down here is, while the Washington Post suggests Hagan’s seat may wind up being the “life raft” for Democrats if they escape with control of the Senate next month. Like it or not, all eyes are on North Carolina for the next three weeks. After that, what will any of us have to talk about?

See you next week.

James Harrison recently returned to Asheville after working as a government reporter for Nooga.com, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Follow him on Twitter at @jharrisonAVL.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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20 Comments

  1. AVL LVR October 20, 2014

    I do support fracking (not Tim Moffitt), but WNC has no shale to frack. It will happen mainly in the center of the state. United States didn’t become the world’s largest oil and gas producers by doing nothing. Strong oil and gas production is partly the reason the economy has not tanked. Instead, United States is beginning to look like an attractive place for manufacturers because our energy prices are much less than say Germany.

    On the discussion of affordable housing, I just watched a clip from the BBC News on Boulder’s affordable housing crisis. Beginning in 1909, they limited how much the city could grow by preserving all the land around it which effectively limited space to build. While prevented it the city from out of control growth like Denver (1/6th the land area) and made it more livable and more attractive, it crowded out the middle class.

    Unless something is done the “Innovation Districts” will crowd out the middle class. I consider the city’s focus on them a direct result of Tim Moffitt’s stupid goal to limit Asheville’s ability to grow by annexing the area around it. By sprucing up these areas (gentrification), they can make up for the loss of tax revenue they would have had by annexing say Arden and Candler. The areas will attract the wealthy and those on subsidized housing. I doubt anyone in the middle class will be able to afford it.

    Reply
    1. Tim Peck October 21, 2014

      Representative Tim Moffitt’s goal was to limit Asheville’s predatory FORCED annexation. He achieved that goal. This is the reason progressives in Asheville have chosen to demonize him.
      http://goo.gl/tIsnYF

      Reply
      1. AVL LVR October 22, 2014

        Moffitt, your posts are delayed because of links or change of email.

        Urban areas should incorporate or be annexed. Being FORCED (with strict standards) is not always bad. Sales and income taxes are forced, the law is enforced, health & car (for those with cars)insurance are forced, schooling, and in times of total war the draft is forced.

        Some of the benefits of annexation from the NC League of Municipalities:
        + Annexation is a cost-effective way to manage growth and helps keep property tax rates
        lower. When there is an adequate tax base, then tax rates can be lower and still provide adequate revenues to meet residents’ needs.
        + Cities without the ability to annex have poor bond ratings and have to pay higher
        interest rates when borrowing money. Higher interest rates mean higher costs for taxpayers.
        + Annexation helps share the costs of city/town services to people who benefit from
        them. City residents pay 60 percent of the property taxes used to provide county services in unincorporated areas. People in unincorporated areas pay zero property taxes for city services from which they benefit.
        + Annexation contributes to the overall fiscal health of North Carolina cities and
        towns. Cities and towns that are in good financial shape can build the infrastructure and amenities
        needed to attract new jobs and provide services to residents and businesses. A Carnegie-
        Mellon study found that “fragmented governance at the metropolitan level reduces the competitiveness of the metropolitan economy.”*
        + Cities/towns decline without annexation. Without the ability to expand, most cities begin
        to lose population, their inner cities decline and property values decrease. In one study, cities that had little or no ability to expand had lost, on average, between 20 and 50 percent of their population over the last five decades.
        + Annexation helps avoid environmental and public health problems. Areas annexed
        often are brought onto municipal water and sewer systems, which are stringently regulated by the state and federal governments. Without annexation, septic tanks and package treatment plant proliferate, often resulting in problems both for residents and the environment.

        Reply
        1. AVL LVR October 22, 2014

          Tim Moffitt (aka Tim Peck), you are a bad citizen. You are not paying the property taxes on your mansion for Asheville’s services from which you benefit. People in Asheville pay more because of you. Yes, I would force you to pay. It is only fair.

          Reply
          1. Tim Peck October 24, 2014

            Yes. I understand you REALLY like force. You must be a progressive.

            And I’m really enjoying my new mansion. I’ve been needing a second one for a while. I’m finally catching up with the Turners.

            Reply
    2. Tim Peck October 21, 2014

      Representative Tim Moffitt’s goal was to limit Asheville’s predatory FORCED annexation. He achieved that goal. This is the reason progressives in Asheville have chosen to demonize him.

      Reply
      1. AVL LVR October 21, 2014

        I am guessing your real name is Tim Moffitt. Your deal with Sierra Nevada limiting AVL Airport’t ability to expand to the French Broad River sucked. Sierra Nevada could have bought land on the west side of the FBR and save all the land on the east side for the airport. Possibly you cold have made the entrance on Fern Cliff Rd with a parking garage on the left and a pedestrian bridge connecting it to the main terminal. I would put an overpass on NC 280 to connect Fern Cliff Rd to I-26. BTW it is Asheville’s airport. Annexing the land between Asheville and its airport (Arden) would have solidified their control over it. Also, annexing Candler like Arden would have prevented my tax dollars being spent to subsidize people in the unincorporated areas of the county. These things make common sense and where used to help build Charlotte and Raleigh. Tim, you really need to consider what is best for Asheville.

        Reply
  2. Tim Peck October 19, 2014

    “where they were schooled, and where they send their kids to school. If those things matter to you.”

    Yes. When a candidate tries to hide the fact that he has two homes, had jobs handed to him by his Mom, never set foot in a public school, and failed at every job he’s ever had, and is basically a spoiled little rich kid who never grew up, finally revealing the truth matters.
    …………………

    Reply
    1. luther blissett October 19, 2014

      The paid propagandist for a paid propagandist says what? Projection is Mouthpiece’s middle name.

      (Once again:is that an official pronouncement from the M*ff*tt campaign, or did he let you out of the kennel for five minutes to poop?)

      Reply
      1. Barry Summers October 19, 2014

        Man, the hate just squirts out of that guy like a Water Pic, doesn’t it?

        Reply
        1. RedHotPoker October 20, 2014

          …typical lieberal comment…you confuse ‘hate’ with knowledge and common sense. It’s how you people operate…

          Reply
          1. Barry Summers October 20, 2014

            “knowledge and common sense”?

            Calling the guy “a spoiled little rich kid who never grew up”? Sorry, Tim Peck is a fountain of hate, and his judgement is clouded by hatred of anyone to the left of Genghis Khan.

            But then you claimed to not think that calling Obama “Obongo” is racist, so I guess we can disregard both of you.

            Turner is a good man, and he’ll serve this region far better than the ALEC/Big Oil/Big Drone man we currently have.

            Reply
    2. Eric Winters October 21, 2014

      What’s wrong, Peck? Run out of articles on the AC-T to post your paid opinion?

      Reply
  3. Tim Peck October 18, 2014

    [third attempt]

    “where they were schooled, and where they send their kids to school. If those things matter to you.”

    Yes. When a candidate tries to hide the fact that he has two homes, had jobs handed to him by his Mom, never set foot in a public school, and failed at every job he’s ever had, and is basically a spoiled little rich kid who never grew up, finally revealing the truth matters.

    Poll shows Moffitt, opponent in dead heat
    http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2014/10/17/poll-shows-moffitt-turner-dead-heat/17445219/

    Reply
  4. Barry Summers October 17, 2014

    Just waiting for the next fracking industry-funded ad campaign for Tim Moffitt to start up…

    Reply
    1. RedHotPoker October 20, 2014

      DUH, such an ad wouldn’t do them any good here as there will be no friggin frackin …duh.

      Reply
      1. Barry Summers October 20, 2014

        DERP, DENR only said they were postponing testing for shale in WNC this year, “for budgetary reasons” (but really so as to give candidates like Tim Moffitt and Michelle Presnell, who are on the ropes, a better chance of getting re-elected).

        In any case, the real point is to have fracking-friendly legislators in office so as guarantee it will happen everywhere in the State, not just here. And Tim Moffitt received the highest amount of cash from the American Petroleum Institute last year, so we know he’s their guy.

        DEEEEEERRRRRP.

        Reply
  5. Tim Peck October 17, 2014

    [since my earlier attempt to post did not go through, I’ll try again. Is anyone else having this problem?]

    “where they were schooled, and where they send their kids to school. If those things matter to you.”

    Yes. When a candidate tries to hide the fact that he has two homes, had jobs handed to him by his Mom, never set foot in a public school, and failed at every job he’s ever had, and is basically a spoiled little rich kid who never grew up, finally revealing the truth matters.

    Poll shows Moffitt, opponent in dead heat
    http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2014/10/17/poll-shows-moffitt-turner-dead-heat/17445219/

    Reply
    1. Barry Summers October 22, 2014

      Is anyone else having this problem?

      No, but we think it’s hilarious that you are. I could tell you why it’s happening, but I probably won’t.

      Reply
  6. Tim Peck October 17, 2014

    “where they were schooled, and where they send their kids to school. If those things matter to you.”

    Yes. When a candidate tries to hide the fact that he has two homes, had jobs handed to him by his Mom, never set foot in a public school, and failed at every job he’s ever had, and is basically a spoiled little rich kid who never grew up, finally revealing the truth matters.

    Poll shows Moffitt, opponent in dead heat
    http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2014/10/17/poll-shows-moffitt-turner-dead-heat/17445219/

    Reply

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