What is Asheville city council doing during this time of crisis? Millions in immediate rental relief? Anti-eviction measures? Nope, they're hiking taxes on locals so a front group run by the chamber of commerce can harass anyone "out of the ordinary" with its private security. 🧵 #avlnews - ThreadSky

avlblade.bsky.social • 44 days ago

What is Asheville city council doing during this time of crisis? Millions in immediate rental relief? Anti-eviction measures?

Nope, they're hiking taxes on locals so a front group run by the chamber of commerce can harass anyone "out of the ordinary" with its private security. 🧵 #avlnews

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avlblade.bsky.social•44 days ago

That's right, the downtown Business Improvement District is still going forward despite Helene. Locals in downtown, including renters, will pay $1.25 million in additional taxes. This will go directly to a front group formed by the chamber, the Downtown Association and SF-based Nexstreet... #avlnews

avlblade.bsky.social•44 days ago

From start to finish, the Asheville BID push has been astoundingly corrupt, hatched in secret by the chamber, conservative business groups and a handful of wealthy property owners.

Here's our in-depth look at it from last year: https://ashevilleblade.com/?p=5011 #avlnews

avlblade.bsky.social•44 days ago

While city officials claimed that the process wasn't rigged in their favor, it clearly was set up for the chamber from the start. City officials appeared alongside those spearheading the chamber's scheme to promote it. Tomorrow, that's who they're set to give the contract to. #avlnews

avlblade.bsky.social•44 days ago

Around the country BIDs are notorious for driving out working class locals, harassing the marginalized, violating civil rights, acting as slush funds for wealthy cliques and shutting down small businesses that don't fit the sanitized gentrification they embody. #avlnews

avlblade.bsky.social•44 days ago

The BID is wildly unpopular among residents, downtown workers and even many business owners, who have protested and packed meetings: https://ashevilleblade.com/?p=5051

Some figures prominently involved in the BID effort even had their luxury cars smashed: https://www.patreon.com/posts/enemies-back-of-106497037 #avlnews

avlblade.bsky.social•44 days ago

But city hall serves the chamber and the wealthy, not the public.

Even in a disaster zone, as thousands of locals face looming homelessness, that remains their priority... #avlnews

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