Is Asheville ‘terribly overrated?’ A look at travel writer’s claim — See Editorial, Pg. 20
Garrison Keillor entertains with poignant stories, songs — See Review, Pg. 11
David Landsel
Garrison Keillor
ILLE V E H AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER
May 2013
Vol. 9, No. 6
An Independent Newspaper Serving Greater Asheville
www.ashevilledailyplanet.com
FREE
Lawsuit looms in water system seizure? Mumpower vows to leave GOP if water system leaves Asheville
From Staff Reports
The state House of Representatives on May 2 gave final approval to legislation that ends Asheville’s control of the regional water system with no compensation to the city. In the aftermath, the city is considering a legal fight. Specifically, the state House agreed with changes made by the Senate to N.C. House Bill 488 that would strip the water system from the city. The action sends the bill to Gov. Pat McCrory for consideration. If signed by the governor, the new law would hand over control of the Asheville water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County. In the aftermath, the city announced that Asheville City Council will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. May 7 “to consider authorizing legal action” against the move to take away its water system. The meeting will be held in council chambers on the second floor of City Hall. Council is expected to go into closed session to consult with its attorney, as allowed by state law to discuss pending litigation. according to a notice issued by City Clerk Maggie Burleson. McCrory will have10 days to sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. However, the measure, sponsored by Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, was approved in both the House and Senate by
From Staff Reports
‘League of Women Vipers’ tweet still reverberates
By JOHN NORTH
john@ashevilledailyplanet.com
A recent tweet by a Buncombe County Republican Party official — allegedly in a playful reference to The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County as the “League of Women Vipers” — has resulted in the enrollment of at least three new members who joined because they objected to what they see as mean-spiritedness of the BCGOP. At least that is the assessment of Karen Oeschlaeger, president of the local league chapter, who spoke to the Daily Planet in a May 2 interview about the tweet and her and the league’s relationship with local Republicans. “So I’d like to thank the Bun-
Daily Planet Staff Photo
Local activists Heather Rayburn (right) and Elaine Lite express their heartfelt opposition to the turnover of the Asheville regional water system via a bill that was introduced by Rep. TIm Moffitt (left). The women approached Moffitt as he was leaving after his April 5 address to the Council of Independent Business Owners at Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville. He spoke with the activists and others, calmly and at length. A story on the CIBO meeting appears on Page 6. margins that would override a gubernatoproposal prompted a big turnout of citizens rial veto. The governor’s office would not at a town hall-style meeting with City say whether he supports the bill. Council and officials on April 3. (A story The controversy over the water system on that meeting appears on Page 24.)
combe County Republican Party for the publicity rush,” she said. “Thank you for the new members.” On a more serious note, Oeschlaeger said of the “Vipers” tweet controversy, “Well, you know, it’s not really our top priority... We have the (upcoming) annual meeting” occupying most of the organization’s attention at the moment. “I just want to know who sent the tweet. I’d like to sit down with them and have a good conversation,” she said. Meanwhile, Nathan West, BCGOP communications director, confirmed to the Daily Planet April 6 at the party’s Lincoln-Reagan gala that he was the one who sent it out with the intent of being humorous. See LEAGUE, Page 10
Carl Mumpower, one of the most prominent political conservatives in Asheville history, announced on April 26 that he would leave the Republican Party over what he termed the “legislative larceny” of the Asheville water system. When pressed May 2 for a status update on his vow, he emailed the Daily Planet that, while both RepublicanCarl Mumpower controlled houses of the state General Assembly have voted to merge the city’s regional water system into the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County, “I’ll wait to see if (the) governor (Pat McCrory, also a Republican) signs it” before deciding whether to resign from the party. See MUMPOWER, Page 23
Cool jazz heats up a Sunday night
Singer Rockell Scott of Asheville sings some jazz standards with the Bill Bare Trio (and two guest horn players) during an April 28 per-
Special Photo by SCOTT WOODY
formance at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall in West Asheville. Live jazz music is featured at the new venue every Sunday night.