We've gotten some questions about our reporting on the city budget, specifically our source for city manager DK Welsey's $265,000/yr salary (which is, indeed, more than the mayor of New York). Our source is city government's own documents, specifically her December 2025 contract. #avlgov #avlnews

We're in the rare position of delivering good news on the local covid front. The mildest winter wave yet is now over. Reduced tourism and increased vaccinations helped keep infections relatively low. But precautions are still important Our full announcement: ashevilleblade.com?p=5330 #avlnews

The words below seem obvious to state, but it is currently a matter of local government policy that terrorizing the homeless will, in fact, bring the tourists back... Our latest: www.patreon.com/posts/terror... #avlgov #avlnews

But there's more! Asheville city council's going to set water fees for the coming year. They're retaining the highly corrupt rate structure where big businesses get *a discount* the more water they pump! It means locals get gouged for a decaying water system but, well, the gentry like it #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

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

Asheville city hall: "We're taxing locals and cutting services! We need to hire way more cops!" The cops they hire:

All of us who guessed "make the public pay way more for far less services" for how Asheville city hall would respond to the budget gap, well... City hall has bloated salaries for higher-ups and a ridiculously bloated police dept with a slew of vacant positions. This is a choice. #avlnews

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

This is where we're at as the winter storm bears down on Asheville. Latest projections have it arriving around noon, with the worst freezing rain hitting this evening. This amount of ice can do very real damage, so please take this seriously. More info: forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php...

The impacts of the looming winter storm are becoming clearer, and it's a very real threat. If you haven't already, check in on each other, finish getting supplies laid in and take precautions seriously. #avlnews More info here: forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php...

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

Due to the post-holiday spike in infections, we're resuming our full covid wave alerts. Read the latest here: ashevilleblade.com?p=5330 #avlnews

Well, here we are again. After a brief respite over December, Asheville is back in covid wave territory. A surge in infections post-holidays has sent risks — based on virus in wastewater data — well into Substantial territory. #avlnews More info here: www.patreon.com/posts/ashevi...

Hey y'all, our A Word About Our City radio essays — a collaboration with Asheville Community News on @ashevillefm.bsky.social — are now in one collection. #avlnews If you want a radical, honest look at what's going on in our city, have a listen: www.patreon.com/collection/1...

The Blade's faced an extraordinarily difficult year. Our local journalism co-op's still done incredible work. We'd like your help to keep doing it. Here's how: ashevilleblade.com?p=5360 Our city needs independent journalism — not yet more tourism industry marketing — more than ever. #avlnews

The latest batch of federal Helene relief funds are on the way. The largest single portion, $7.7 million, is going to Asheville city hall to... Renovate the golf course. Yes, you read that right. Not housing or rental aid. Their priority is the golf course. This is Asheville. #avlnews #avlgov

Asheville city council will meet Friday morning to appoint a new interim city manager and full-time city manager. This follows Debra Campbell's departure. Given council's track record, don't expect any departure from Campbell's vindictively conservative, hyper-gentrifying policies. #avlnews #avlgov

Some good news: Asheville is out of a covid wave for the first time in four months. However, with holidays here this is almost certainly a temporary reprieve. Keep masking up in indoor public spaces, especially crowded ones, and review risks/precautions with those close to you. #avlnews

While solid public health data's been difficult to come by the last few weeks, it's now clear that covid risks in the Asheville area have declined to SUBSTANTIAL, down from High. We may be out of this wave entirely in a week or two, but we're not there yet. Risks remain very real. #avlnews

Last month's marketing blitz depicted post-Helene Asheville as happy, fully recovered and ready to welcome rich tourists. Nothing could be further from the truth: Asheville is still a disaster zone. The first part of our new series, The Crisis After the Crisis. ashevilleblade.com?p=5349 #avlnews

Some good news on the Asheville covid front. It's now clear the wave that started in August has peaked. We're reducing local covid risks to HIGH, down from Catastrophic. Still important to get the updated shot, wear an N95 in public spaces, and use mitigations. #avlnews

Regular Asheville city council meeting begins at 5. @matildabliss.bsky.social and @davidforbes.bsky.social will cover live. Main items are "downtown activatiom strategies." Apparently cops not pelting local bargoers with chemical weapons wasn't on the list. #avlgov #avlnews

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

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

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

Heads up, y'all. Remember our experience with disaster prep, coordinate with folks close to you and stock up (without panic) on any supplies you might need. We keep us safe. From the National Weather Service's Greenville-Spartanburg office this morning. #avlnews

Sadly the news on the local covid front keeps getting worse. The height of tourism season, new variants and vaccine restrictions from the cultists running federal agencies fueling skyrocketing infections in Asheville #avlnews Our updated covid alert: ashevilleblade.com?p=5330

Unfortunately, we have to raise the local covid risk level to HIGH, based on data showing rapidly increasing infections in the Asheville area. This means stricter precautions. Wear an N95 in indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. Limit errands. Test regularly and coordinate precautions... #avlnews

After the council meeting last week, where six members (including both Mayor Esther Manheimer and Council member/mayoral candidate Kim Roney) voted to gut local boards, that's exactly what happened. Today city hall killed most boards *until at least 2027.* #avlgov #avlnews