Question about Asheville from a left-coaster

[OnionPatch]

We live in southern California now and are planning to retire in the next five years or so. Right now we live in what must be the reddest area of California. You'd never know you were in California if you drove around our area and saw all the pickups and Bush stickers. Basically, we're sick to death of it and one of our top requirements for retirement is to live somewhere much more liberal. The northwest is an option but all of our family is in the east. We're not into very cold weather so New England is out.

I keep hearing that Asheville is pretty liberal, but I'd like to hear it from the horse's mouth. I've been through the area and it's very pretty. Geographically, it seems ideal. Not to far north, not to far south, not too far from the ocean and I love the Appalachian Mountains. Is this true that Asheville is a liberal town? How liberal? What is it like? Is it a good place to live? What about the rural areas nearby? (I have to have a big garden!) I'd love to hear from anyone who lives in Asheville.

[moose65]

1. I don't live in Asheville, but...

I live in the mountains of NC. Asheville is perceived to be quite the liberal mecca, as it is the biggest city in the western part of the state. I like Asheville a lot, but the surrounding county is probably as red or redder than the area you live in currently!!

[patricia92243]

2. I'm almost afraid to reply. I always thought Asheville was as red as we c

could get. I've lived here all my life, so I guess I have a different perspective on it.

Other people that have posted here and are from Asheville - for how many years, I don't know - say it is liberal.

I know we have a couple of streets that have more liberal type of businesses - but that's about it. Right now I'm aggravated that we are not going to get to see "Good Night and Good Luck." Doesn't sound like a liberal town to me!! :(

Like most things in life - it is what you make of it.

[NoSheep]

3. Everything I hear these days about Asheville is positive.

Big arts and music scene. Lots of old hippies and thoughtful people moving there to slow the pace of life down a bit. I predict you'll love it. Good luck to you.

[libnnc]

4. I was born and raised just west of Asheville

and left for the big city (Greensboro/Winston-Salem) a little over 15 years ago.

I'll just say that at times I wish I'd stayed and settled in Asheville. There are surrounding areas that are very conservative, but I really believe that AVL is becoming the Paris of the Appalachians.

It's where my partner and I escape to get our souls jump-started. I have wonderful childhood memories of Asheville and I can honestly say that it's a much better place now than it was 30 years ago.

[GreenInNC]

5. lived in Asheville

I lived in Asheville while going to grad school and wish I could move back. If this tells you anything, Asheville, I believe, was the only city in NC to host Jim Hightower's Rolling Thunder tour. A good source for liberal news from up there is the Mountain Express: http://www.mountainx.com/ or the Asheville Global Report: http://www.agrnews.org/

[wishlist]

6. I have lived in Asheville since 1975, ideal climate and politics are OK

I believe there are more progressive (as liberals are labeled here) than conservative city residents and quite a lot of religious diversity in the city whereas the outlying areas in the county are more conservative dominated by Baptist and fundamentalist churches and right wingers. Letters to the editor in the Asheville Citizen-Times seem to be slightly more liberal than conservative on the whole. As I recall, Dennis Kucinich got the most votes here during the Democratic primary caucus with John Edwards second while across the state, Edwards won. Democrats are very active with many political activities going on all the time. The young Democrats and women's Democratic organizations have substantial and active memberships.

I am very comfortable with the politics in my (East Asheville) neighborhood, since I see more Democratic than Republican stickers and signs and I often get into good conversations with like-minded neighbors whether I'm working, taking a walk or out shopping or doing volunteer activities. The city limits are spread out into several distinct neighborhood communities outside of the central downtown area and many city houses in the suburban areas have large yards and gardens.

[Yellow_Dog]

7. Asheville liberal? well since most freaks lean left...

I guess you could call Asheville, that those of us that live here call Freakville liberal.

Asheville has the highest percentage of people living in public housing than any other city in the state.

The city government is hell bent on eliminating homelessness by simply giving people a free place to live, paid for on the backs property owners through taxes. http://www.endhomelessness.org/localplans/Asheville.pdf

The underlying information this document does not cover is that if they are drug or alcohol abusers, no problem, as there will be no requirement to stay off drugs or to stay sober.

Compared to CA you might find prices reasonable, but they are out of control for the area. Police Dept is seriously understaffed, for the simple reason they don't pay squat. The majority of the 'service' people that live here, can barely afford to live here.

Three large 'homeless' shelters in the downtown turnout hundreds of homeless to beg and panhandle (even thought the city made that illegal) during the day. There are no public restrooms, so they do 'their business' where ever they can, so watch your step.

[brainshrub]

8. It's great!

Read this if you want to know how liberal the town is:

www.brainshrub.com/2005-progressive

I live in Asheville. It's the best place to live in the world. When you get here, I'll give you a tour and make you waffles.

[Yellow_Dog]

10. That linked article should be titled...

It is going to be the year of the Socialists. Bellamy and Jones, both currently on council really don't care that the infrastructure is crumbling, that gangs and drugs are the ruling force in too many neighborhoods, that the police department is grossly understaffed (poor pay as primary reason) that the water system is in serious serious trouble, and major and long lasting outages are likely at any time due to decades of the "liberals" squandering water revenues for other agendas instead of maintaining the system.

None of those issues are "feel good" issues, and will not be addressed if these people are elected (which is likely). The city is on course to further allow the lazy, inept, and those the choose a life unburdened by personal responsibilities who are really hoping these people are elected so that it will be easier for them to spend their life sucking on the teat of the working taxpayers in Asheville.

But come on down, it is going to take a lot more taxpayers to support the 'pie in the sky' agenda of this cast of Socialists, and bring your teat checkbook

[G_j]

11. ok, you are against the "progressive" politicos, think them "Socialists"

etc.

Funny, Asheville has always been pretty well controlled by an old-boy network of developers and lawyers, not "lazy, inept" "socialist" "liberals". I've watched Asheville politics for a while and I don't think we are talking about the same place.

[Yellow_Dog]

12. From how far away have you been watching?

Do you live here? Is your interest in Asheville politics just a curiosity, or do you really give a damn because these leeches, the elected panhandlers, are sucking on the teat attached to your wallet. Do you pay almost $5,000 in property taxes ever year to have an understaffed police department, a water system that causes total water outages a couple of times a year for the simple reason the system has never been maintained, a civic center in the wrong place, and in serious disrepair (electrical problems, leaking roof, etc.) only to have city council spend thousands on butt ugly art (and of course not from a local artist) and then store it because they really don't know what to do with it. To dream up some scheme to really start sucking on taxpayers wallets to give free housing to all the homeless, and not even require them to stay sober or off of drugs? Have you exchanged numerous emails with the mayor and city council members, watched them in action to realize they are die hard NIMBY's who will bury neighborhoods in apartments an strip malls, but vote against the same in their neighborhood?

[supernova]

13. Yellow_Dog, you seem averse to newcomers

which is strangely antithetical to the spirit of NC. What's the deal?

[G_j]

14. I live here

and have attended more City Council meetings than I like to remember.
I agree with what you say about the water system and some other waste.
However I don't share an obsession about those horrible homeless people. I've been in similar discussions here with RWingers. I'd rather not get into again. I accept that you dislike the homeless etc. So be it.

But if you think Asheville's woes are due to socialistic "liberals" than I'm not sure what you are doing on a "progressive" board. You want that RW asshole Joe Dunn as mayor???

Well, it is time to get ready to VOTE: Bellamy, Cape, Freeborn, and Jones!

enjoy your day!

[Yellow_Dog]

17. Yep, and you can bet your next tax increase

That this bleeding heart, Ms Bellamy, will give the farm away to the poor, to the disadvantaged, and especially to the lazy that way too much money will be wasted on people sucking on the teat of the taxpayer. If you live, you must be familiar with Pisgah View, Hillcrest and the dozen or so other incubation areas for drugs and crime. PV has a family that has 5 generations of the same family living there, never holding a job, and sucking on the teat of the taxpayer with all their might.

While for $5,000 a year I get my garbage picked up once a week, and wonder if the water will be there the next time I open a faucet, and drive around on some miserably maintained roads.

You need to be sure that your home has a sound and functional roof, and other basics before you spend a money filling it with nice furniture, art, and other "feel good" waste. Joe Dunn would have fixed the roof first, Ms. Bellamy will put down pretty carpet even though the roof leaks badly.

[G_j]

18. again

what are you doing on a progressive board?
Joe Dunn is a RWinger!


"bleeding heart" "lazy" ??

Let me ask you, do you have any progressive/liberal values?

[G_j]

9. not perfect but

the positive points are many. The first is the people, great diversity and considerable tolerance. Lots of art and music. Ironically the cost of housing and the low pay scale make it hard for artists but many of us somehow manage. We deal with that if we can because Asheville is such a nice place on the whole. Politically we are continually battling a red old boy network. We (the progressives/artists) are the bread and butter of the city so they can't totally shut us out, but there are huge ongoing battles over development. The more politically active people here the better!
Good progressive, nice people are always welcome here as far as I'm concerned.

[young_at_heart]

15. I was born in Glendale in 1939 and left So. Cal. in 1993

I might have some info you could rely on re Asheville. We've been here since 1998 and are VERY happy. Even though lots of retirees are moving here and the growth is too fast, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. We've been surprised at how many other Californians have moved here. I'm guessing you live somewhere in Orange County....yuck. We used to live in Claremont....also a red, very pretentious area. We visited NC for the first time in 1997 and it was love at first site (for Asheville).

The weather is wonderful....cools down at night in the summer and the winters are mild compared to NE. The sky is a beautiful blue most of the time, but on the down-side, there is some smog coming from Tennessee (nothing like L.A., however). All those things you mentioned as positives are true. I have a lovely garden and Asheville is plenty liberal for me....we have several liberal friends here too. There are many academics who have retired here and the arts are top-notch.

Good luck with your decision.

[Lindsay]

16. I'm south of Asheville, down in the foothills in Polk County.

So I dunno about politics in Asheville, but I'm all for getting more liberals in NC!

You might want to try renting for a year while you scope out the area and decide where you want to settle. The weather where I am is even better than it is in Asheville. (I moved here from Cleveland, OH, so I know from cold.) I'm guessing housing prices away from Asheville proper are more reasonable, too.