Reparations & Fears of the Unknown

Rumors and allegations about the goings on in the Asheville-Buncombe Reparations Commission could not be confirmed, based on the most recent presentations at official city and county meetings.

Buncombe’s Asheville: Reparations Still Idling

On July 30, 2020, Devin Dwyer at ABC News asked if Asheville was a national model for reparations. Two and a half years later, with a $4.1 million budget, the reparations leadership continues to move forward—with planning.

Reparations Are Not the Answer

What is it about reparations that seems to create so much confusion, love, or downright hostility? It’s a topic that shuns debate because it is founded on gut feelings and emotion, with very little rational thought underpinning it. Rational thought has no home here. As Elon Musk said, “It is easy to fool people, but […]

Equitable Inconsistency: Criticism of the City’s Master Plan

Buncombe County says its 20-year comprehensive draft plan is supposed to be a document brought about by a democratic atmosphere of consensus while representing the residents’ wishes on the whole. Instead, it reads more like a manifesto written by socially-empowered people, virtue-signaling a particular perspective on the country’s history as a foundational presupposition for justifying […]

Reparations: Now Two Years in the Making

It's been over two years since the Asheville-Buncombe Reparations Commission was formed. Accomplishments to date include seating members and working toward defining the problem.

Council Adopts Budget with Flair

After the City of Asheville listened to activists and allocated millions for new budget items like reparations, reimagining the police, and the latest concepts in homeless shelters, protesters still protested with a stirring in the council chambers as the budget was about to be adopted.

ARPA Funds Balance Asheville Budget

As is to be expected, public comment on the City of Asheville's FY2022-2023 budget showed little fiscal restraint. People came ready to ask for more, but now Councilwoman Kim Roney has joined Councilwoman Gwen Wisler in realizing funding is finite.

Asheville Adopts Legislative Agenda

Asheville City Council adopted a legislative agenda for the short session of the NC General Assembly. Items included a request for state and federal reparations and a quarter-cent municipal tax for transit.

Reparations Should Involve Mind & Heart

Grant Millin, speaking during public comment before Asheville City Council, argued reason has taken a back seat, behind the good intentions of reparations proposals.

Defund Loses Zest as Asheville Budget Passes

Asheville City Council approved its budget with Kim Roney opposed. Roney wanted more equity and tax relief and would have preferred to freeze 30 police vacancies.