This is the birthday of Scrutiny Hooligans, Asheville's great progressive blog started by our now great City Council member, Gordon Smith. GordonNC started getting his blogging feet wet here at Daily Kos in 2003 and joined in January, 2004. I started blogging and paying attention to online politics thanks in part to Gordon's blog and that in turn landed me here at the Great Orange Satan. Thanks Gordon! Click on the ScrewHoo link above to see how the blog has evolved over the years. And to see how much Republicans hate us, follow me after the orange thingy. It has been a wonderful local resource for progressive news and action.
This is Gordon's announcement this morning marking the blog's birthday.
Scrutiny Hooligans is nine years in the blogosphere. Thanks to everyone who writes and reads it. As we enter our tenth year, know that this continues to be a place with no editorial controls over its writers, a group blog that is totally independent. It’s been through different seasons, focused on different things, and there’s no telling where it’ll go from here. I’m grateful to be a part of it because it offers up a space for information, education, and advocacy. I gave up hardcore snark when I was elected to City Council, but that’s where the rest of you come in. Keeping us intelligently entertained and mischievously engaged – that’s the heart and soul of the place. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I thought that was nice. So I responded.
Congratulations! What a valuable resource this has been through the years. Thanks to the Captain and the crew.
Well wouldn't you know it, wanna be super villain,
Tim Moffitt District 116 State Rep just had to join in.
Thanks for continuing to steer the city of Asheville off the left-hand cliff. It makes my job of destroying the place so much easier when I can say with a straight face, “they brought it on themselves.”
“It was Scrutiny Hooligan’s fault.”
“I had to push back against the socialist agitators.”
“Luke, I am your father.”
Etc.
How nice.
Gordon is running for City Council again. Please consider supporting him if you can.
Here is his announcement on Scrutiny Hooligans.
Thank you for all of your support through my first term on Asheville’s City Council. We’ve accomplished a lot together. These steps have taken us closer and closer to being an affordable, sustainable community with a strong middle class. We’re not there yet, and policy decisions forced upon us from Raleigh aren’t making things easier for anybody.
I’m running for re-election to City Council because I believe we can grow Asheville’s middle Class. We can continue to support the creation of living wage jobs and accelerate our medium and small businesses in new ways. We can have more affordable housing, a more comprehensive multimodal transportation network, and stronger food systems. We can invest in our city, creating conditions for a healthy economic future.
Asheville is an aspirational city. We aspire to sustainability in our economy, our environment, and our society. We are people who work hard to make a living and to make a difference. Together we can continue on a path to prosperity that gives everyone the opportunity for a great life.
Gordon's
Campaign Website gives a nice look into the campaign with ways to help from fundraising to volunteering.
And since you are here, please visit with the DKos Asheville crew every Saturday morning at 11:00 am where we look at local and state politics, share local culture and talk about what regional Kossacks are up to. And speaking of which, we will be having our second NEW DAY DKos Asheville meetup on July 20th. Kosmail me if you would like to attend. It is going to be big fun with great food and great company in a great town.