As a direct neighbor to Goodwill’s Patton Avenue facility, I feel compelled to respond to Bill Haymore’s comments in your Aug. 13 article about the July 7 fire [“Property Dispute: Blaze at Goodwill Fans Smoldering Dismay of West Asheville Neighbors,” Xpress].
That morning, my family awoke to explosions and flames, 75 yards from our home. As the flames grew taller, we wondered if we should evacuate. Our home was directly threatened by a fire that was started on Goodwill’s poorly secured property.
Mr. Haymore claims they’ve taken action, but after years of these promises, we’ve seen no meaningful improvement. Time and again, there is cursory cleanup and smooth PR by Mr. Haymore, only for the property to remain insecure and unmaintained. The real issue is that this nonprofit operates like a for-profit corporation, prioritizing executive compensation over property security…