Asheville City Hall — Local services in Asheville

Dear Asheville City Leaders,

I recently had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful city, and I wanted to share some thoughts that could potentially enhance the experience for future tourists. Asheville's charm and cultural richness are undeniable, yet as a visitor, I noticed opportunities for improvement that could make the city even more welcoming and accessible.

One aspect that struck me was the potential for enhancing public transit and creating more walkable streets. Investing in these areas could significantly prioritize pedestrian safety and convenience, thereby encouraging more tourists to explore without necessarily relying on rental cars. This approach not only enhances the visitor experience but also aligns with global trends towards sustainable and eco-friendly travel practices.

Cities that prioritize pedestrian-friendly infrastructure often see increased tourism, as visitors feel more comfortable and inclined to explore on foot. Additionally, robust public transit systems can reduce traffic congestion and emissions, contributing positively to Asheville's environmental goals.

I encourage Asheville's leadership to consider these suggestions seriously. By investing in public transit and walkability, you not only enhance safety and convenience but also bolster Asheville's reputation as a forward-thinking and visitor-friendly destination.

Thank you for considering these ideas. I look forward to seeing Asheville continue to thrive as a top destination for travelers from...

If you’re woke, lazy, and don’t bathe often, this is the city for you! Oh, and if you want to increase your chance of catching COVID.

Lots of dirty masks laying on tables, bars, benches, etc. 60% of the people wear madks here; yet they have one of the highest rates of infection. Probably because they are just really nasty, filthy people that live here. Not all, but most. Wash your damn masks, people, change them, or don’t wear them. But obviously they aren’t working.

Asheville is becoming a mini San Fancisco with all of the homeless, LBGTQLNONP crowd, and rising crime. The place we stayed at downtown had three, that’s right three, coded entry doors to get to our condo. Entrance from garage, entrance to hallway, entrance to lobby. Management said it was due to high influx of homeless and panhandlers trying to get in.

Never again for us.

The only thing good about Asheville was the breweries. Great craft beer, but even most of those places are really woke too. Some were very realistic but some were downright rude regarding masks. To be sure, we wore them everywhere we were required or asked by the business; without any pushback (because it’s their business and their right). But they at least need to teach staff how and when to police it. Literally had a beer server walk by my table and ask me to pit a mask on, because my beer was empty and I wasn’t drinking at the time. Funny thing was that her mask had grimy fingerprints...

Asheville is no longer the beautiful city it once was. Downtown has become seedy and trashy and dangerous, especially at night. Homelessness is evident everywhere and crime has risen over the years. If I could give it zero stars, I would.

The last time I was there I took in an Asheville Tourists baseball game at night with my son. We wanted to take in the downtown afterwards but the sight of strange men sitting down and huddled in the dark on the sidewalks, appearing to do drugs, was enough to change that. Then when we went fishing one afternoon at the French Broad River, we found trash from what appeared to be an abandoned homeless encampment. It was quite disgusting!

You couldn't pay me to live there. Blame the city officials who mismanage that once beautiful city and have enacted soft on crime policies. I avoid Asheville altogether, spending vacations in Brevard and Bryson City where it is...