Asheville

Mountain Xpress obtained emails that show that Reps. Tim Moffitt and Nathan Ramsey have had some interesting conversations with Asheville officials.

You'll recall that Moffitt and Ramsey stole Asheville's water system, and the City of Asheville sued.

Well it now turns out that Moffitt and Ramsey are telling the officials in Asheville that they sure would appreciate it if the City would drop that lawsuit (nothing surprising or inappropriate about that).

Big Government Republicans in Raleigh are on a roll, having succeeded in passing legislation that would illegally seize Asheville's municipal water system. Now the city is in the sad position of counting on Pat "Duke Energy" McCrory as their last line of defense. Anybody want to bet on what hizzoner will do when the bill lands on his desk?

Details below, via email from PARC. PARC stands for People Advocating Real Conservancy.
web site: http://www.ashevilleparc.com

If you’re a city, why bother?

Why bother building airports or water systems or tennis courts or roads or, well, anything?

"It’s a legitimate question, now that the Republican representatives Tim Moffitt, Nathan Ramsey and Chuck McGrady — may I call them “The Three Spigoteers?” — have filed the bill that would turn over Asheville’s water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District.

That’s with no compensation for land the city bought and owns for reservoirs, or the system itself — water treatment plant, pipes, infrastructure, you name it..."

Read more of the column from the Citizen-Times in Asheville:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013303310048
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-submitted at request of Ellen Lyle, an activist in Asheville, who can be contacted by email at ellendlyle@gmail.com

Sen. Martin Nesbitt (Dem) spoke at the end of the League of Women Voters forum in Asheville about the fate of Asheville's water system on March 13, 2012.

The “Dr. Mumpower” Nesbitt refers to is former Asheville city councilman and former NC-11 congressional candidate, Carl Mumpower, a Republican. The “Chuck” that Nesbitt addresses is Rep. Chuck McGrady (R-Henderson), representing a House committee Rep. Tim Moffitt (R-Buncombe) set up to study whether or not the state should transfer control of the $177 million water system from the city of Asheville to a new regional commission controlled by the state. That would be the one in House Bill 488 introduced this week by Moffitt, McGrady and freshman Rep. Nathan Ramsey (R-Buncombe). Everyone opposing the deal knew the "study" was kabuki theater.

Asheville Citizen-Times supports home rule for North Carolina municipalities.

Mayor Terry Bellamy says she sometimes questions whether a few state legislators shouldn’t just go ahead and run for her job.

It’s safe to assume one of those would be Rep. Tim Moffitt.

"Of course, Moffitt can’t run for mayor. He doesn’t live in Asheville.

And that sums up Asheville’s dilemma. People who do not live in the city are usurping the power of the people elected by the residents of Asheville to govern them..."

Read more: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013303160003

The measures are the latest example of the rocky relationship between officials in the mostly Democratic city and Moffitt, who is backed by a GOP majority in both chambers of the legislature.

The water revenue bill would threaten the city’s ability to go ahead with a $4.2 million project to run a waterline to the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex on Azalea Road and build a new bridge and make other traffic improvements to ease access to the busy area.

To view the contents on CITIZEN-TIMES.com, go to:
http://www.CITIZEN-TIMES.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201303100015/NEW...

Rep. Tim Moffat is wreaking havoc in Buncombe County, and it bodes badly for the rest of North Carolina, too.

A dozen North Carolina cities and towns within the last few weeks have passed, considered or scheduled votes to approve the nonpartisan NC League of Municipalities resolution against "forced taking" of municipal infrastructure by the state.

NC Legislators & Governor: We Oppose the Forced Taking of Municipal Water Systems!

By Kathie Kline (Contact)

To be delivered to: The North Carolina State House, The North Carolina State Senate, and Governor Beverly Perdue

It has come to my attention that Buncombe County’s range war has gone largely unnoticed outside the region. Well, better saddle up, partners. Your town is next. For those who don’t have time for deep reading, here’s the story in a nutshell. It's a complicated story I don't fully grasp myself, so excuse the editorializing and lack of complete detail, but you need to know:

Raleigh is acting like rich, cattle barons.
They want our water rights.
They offer pennies on the dollar.
If we refuse, their henchmen take it by force.

This Saturday, August 4, Young Democrat Day will celebrate the service-minded Millennial Generation by giving Young Democrats across North Carolina the opportunity to give back through registering voters, donating blood, collecting canned food, and more. Events are planned in Murphy, Asheville, Black Mountain, Dallas, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Clayton, Elizabeth City, Wilmington, and Manteo. Follow the action starting at 4 AM using the #YDDay hashtag!

Click for a full list of events and sign up form!

All over the state, Young Democrats will spend the weekend making a difference. Gaston Young Democrats will help distribute school supplies, Mecklenburg Young Democrats will donate blood, Guilford Young Democrats will collect cans to combat a shortage at the local food bank, and Young Democrats from Asheville to Wilmington will register voters.