As Asheville reaches Nirvana with master plans, New Urbanist buildings with white cornices and towers, signature gateways, and the preservation of one magnolia tree, it will soon start working on its branding. It already has an official and an unofficial flag. It needs a motto, a tree, a flower, etc. For the flower, I nominate remains. They keep popping up around town. Since the last week in July, two decomposed bodies have been found, and one woman was found hanging from a tree. I haven’t heard an outcry about that tree – yet.
The latest press release on discovered skeletal remains has not made the papers, yet. But this important issue has. Raleigh, of course, needs to concern itself with lightrail, the education lottery, and other things much more important than providing adequate care for the mentally ill and keeping people who repeatedly pose public dangers off the streets.
