Thread by @DavidForbes

Asheville city council meeting's started. Council unanimously votes to allow council member Antanette Mosley to attend remotely.

Meanwhile locals are required to attend in-person to speak. Covid rates here are currently sky high... #avlgov

This is grotesque, mayor Esther Manheimer, who personally sanctioned a crackdown on anti-raxiat demonstrations and targeting of queer and trans mutual aid activists, is currently lauding Stonewall, a riot against the cops... #avlgov

Allison Scott, council candidate and management at the gentry gay org Campaign for Southern Equality, is accepting the pride proclamation after Youth OUTright refused due to @CityofAsheville crackdowns and queer and trans mutual aid #avlgov

https://twitter.com/AvlBlade/status/1536803725725024258

Vice mayor Sheneika Smith reading Juneteenth proclamation. Asheville gov just cut bus service to two predominantly Black public housing complexes in half. Smith supports budget that cuts transit further while giving more $ to cops #avlgov

Proclamations always bring up the saying about @CityofAsheville coined in summer 2020: "we see you, we hear you, you're valid. The tear gas starts in one minute." #avlgov

Consent agenda passes unanimously. Includes "revisioning" of the Pack Square post-removal of the racist Vance monument ashevillenc.gov/government/cit… #avlgov

City management announcing appointment of longtime #avlgov bureaucrat Sasha Vrtunski as Asheville affordable housing officer. Like with equity director, sign city unable to hire outside (which they prefer to) for some major positions #avlgov

Vrtunski's doing presentation on Asheville city gov incentives for downtown "micro-housing" (tiny dorm room-style units) complex. Units are barely at city "affordable" rate (which is not actually affordable).

#avlgov wants to give it over $500,000 in tax breaks.

Smith noting her opposition to these incentives, worried about pushing out more residents of predominantly Black Southside, lack of actual affordability. #avlgov

Smith also emphasizing recent tax revaluations hitting Southside disproportionately high.

She voted for last year's budget, which hiked taxes on locals (particularly Black neighborhoods) anyway #avlgov

The tiny units at the "micro-housing" development will cost $1000 a goddamn month.

Council mem Sandra Kilgore, a well-off realtor, claims that's a bargain and the peasants, er people, should be thankful #avlgov

Importantly the "micro-housing" doesn't have kitchen facilities, removing one of the main ways working class people save money and stay healthy #avlgov

Public comment. Council candidate Nina Tovish: Only 16 of these "glorified dorm rooms" will be affordable for people making $42,000 or more. In return getting major tax write-off. #avlgov

Council mem Sage Turner endorsing the "micro-housing" development. She lives in a mansion. #avlgov

Mosley wants more affordability from the "micro-housing" complex, has issues with the location. "Folks who live in that area won't be the ones moving in." #avlgov

Council mem (and mayoral candidate) Kim Roney's concerned about the units becoming airbnbs. City attorney says they can't legally be (which often doesn't stop it) #avlgov

Smith: this will gentrify neighborhood more. Southside residents already strained by rising costs, lack of housing.

"All of this development's moving in this community that's already desperate."

(And Smith voted for most of it) #avlgov

Manheimer's pulling the "oh housing's so hard" routine. City gov could just build hoising and turn it over to tenant co-ops to own and run. But developers wouldn't get a cut that way #avlgov

Turner claims "income is going up in Asheville."

...upon what planet does she reside?

This is the worst city in the country on affordability npr.org/sections/money… #avlgov

Given council debate Manheimer asks if developer coild wait two weeks and come back with a project with more affordability. He says no.

They're giving him over $500,000 in tax breaks and council's being extra deferential to him. #avlgov

Roney: "struggling with this one." But she's supporting giving $500,000+ to a developer for glorified dorm rooms anyway. Passes 5-2, Smith and Mosley against #avlgov

Roney's challenging Manheimer in mayor's race, and she's showing the difference between them by moving to the center and voting in lockstep with the mayor in every controversy.

Roney handwrings more, so there's that #avlgov

Over to @matilda_bliss, who will cover next portion of the Asheville council meeting. #avlgov

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