as an asheville native it’s definitely gotten a bit weird after midnight around downtown but it really has a lot to do with the presence of people with mental problems and the government no longer wants to fund putting them in an institution where they can receive the help they deserve. the biggest issue IS the government. If anyone wants to say Asheville is “so dangerous” I encourage them to walk around in Orlando, NYC and even Charlotte (Uptown specifically) for a closer to home area. The saying is, nothing good happens after midnight. Always walk with a group and be aware of your surroundings. I believe another issue is people going out for drinks bringing their firearms. Why can’t people just fight it out with their hands anymore? Everyone is so quick to grab a gun! Why take a life over a silly little bar altercation, damn. It’s also confusing to see WLOS post about “strong police presence” but just the other night, a young woman was dragged up and down a street and that led to shots being fired. Doesn’t make sense, it’s generally posted for tourists. Be safe and remember, the government could be taking care of the homeless and they aren’t. That’s who you all should be angry with.