Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods News

Successful October 1st Council Candidates Forum

The Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods thanks the candidates and attendees for participating in our City Council Candidate forum last night. We had a great discussion on topics ranging from development to public safety to racial justice. The forum was tinged with sadness as we learned of longtime advocate and neighbor Donald "Turk" Melton's passing this week. We send our most heartfelt condolences to Barber Melton, Donald's wife and active CAN champion.

The recording of the virtual meeting can be viewed here.

The candidates have provided written answers to these additional questions:

CAN Update on live public input at boards and commissions

Good news to share today, August 26, 2020.  Thanks to continued CAN communication and collaboration with members of city staff, the Monday August 24th Board of Adjustment meeting adopted the new methods for public input and testimony.  While CAN leadership will remain diligent until we see these new methods applied to all board and commission meetings, we are encouraged.  You can read the detailed update from Patrick Gilbert here...

CAN appeals to the City for equitable firefighter pay

As the Asheville City Council considers the FY 2021 budget the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods (CAN) and its Board of Directors, who represent neighborhood associations through Asheville, urges Council members to consider the sacrifices and commitment of the City's first responder in determining fair and equitable wages, especially as that applies to the City's 280 sworn fire department personnel.  Read more...

CAN and City Teams Collaborate on Virtual Public Input

CAN have engaged with the City of Asheville to advance technology, allowing live interaction during City Council meetings. As a result of these efforts, this week, CAN was asked by the City to participate in testing new technology that better facilitates public comment in real time during public hearings, and provide feedback.  Read more...

CAN's Original Discussion to Defer Public Hearings

The Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods asked the City Council and the City Manager to delay public hearings unless there was a guarantee that all public comments related to an issue that was a subject of a public hearing would be read into the record, before the Council took action.  

CAN took this step to preserve every citizen's right to have his/her voice heard on issues important to communities. Only Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler, who will be presiding over Council meetings in the near future, responded. Read more...