Campaign season sees a profusion of forums for Asheville City Council candidates and the public. A local photographer gives a look at one forum in her area, and what the candidates said
Above: Five Asheville City Council candidates — Rich Lee, Lindsey Simerly, Julie Mayfield, Keith Young and Brian Haynes — field questions from the audience at the Oct. 13 forum held by the Delta Sigma Theta alumnae chapter. Photos by Jen Bowen
Every local election sees Ashevillians looking to grill, criticize, converse with or just meet the candidates for office hold forums and debates. This season, with what promises to be a particularly close general election, has seen an unusually high number. On Oct. 13, local photographer Jenny Bowen went to one at the Grant Center in the Southside neighborhood, near her home, that focused on issues related to the city’s African-American community. Her photos of both those running for office and the attendees along with an account of the questions and the candidates’ responses provide a glimpse of one of these events. — D.F.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Grant Center Asheville City Council candidates were allowed one minute responses to a series of questions put together by the Delta Sigma Theta organization. Questions were specific to the African-Americans communities in Asheville. According to City-Data Asheville’s population is approximately 13 percent black and nearly 40 percent of black people here live below the poverty line. Vice Mayor Marc Hunt was absent due to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting that took place at the same time.
Question: what about the lack of African American sites or hangouts in downtown Asheville?
Brian Haynes: As a local he’s not sure where the answers lie as why this disconnect continues. It stems from the issue of systematic racism that still remains, it’s a big problem and we need to find solutions.
Keith Young: As a child he remembers hanging out on The Block in downtown Asheville but that no longer remains. The changes happening downtown are better for everyone except African-Americans. Asheville needs to support minority owned small businesses who re-invest in the community.
Julie Mayfield: It’s an important conversation. She spent a lot of time in Atlanta and was shocked when she got to Asheville. Atlanta’s work force is largely black and she thought that was what it was like everywhere. Our job as people of privilege is to identify what we need to do to figure out solutions. Asheville could do intentional recruitment to get more diversity of people downtown. Recognition of how urban renewal changed many of Asheville’s communities – these neighborhoods should be memorialized so people know the history. The conversation may need to be about reparations in recognizing the harm urban renewal caused that has not healed.
Lindsey Simerly: She recognizes that the city’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Art Department gets diverse people downtown only once a year by helping host the Goombay festival. She thinks part of the reason there are not as many local black people visiting downtown is because their economic spending power doesn’t allow them to spend $40 or more on a dinner. It’s time for a monument in the middle of Pack Square in recognition of black Asheville history as she believes monuments to be important as symbols who tell people and teach our kids who we are as a people.
Rich Lee: As Dr. Dwight Mullen said years ago, “Asheville likes white diversity,” and we need more than that. We can talk about plans but they often don’t help the black community. History has not been in favor of the African-American. Any plans that are made that concern the African-American community need to come from within and be honored. Black families in Asheville have a medium income of only $30,000 which does not give them enough spending power, Asheville should encourage wage increases to help with income disparity. Also believes a cultural monument to a white slave owner does not welcome black people to downtown.
Question: how to diversify employment opportunities?
Keith Young: A lack of Ban the Box holds up jobs for people, not just African Americans. He has worked with organizations trying to get rid of the box on job applications in Asheville. He recognizes the school to prison pipeline for African Americans and calls for more school board members and teachers who are black and giving more opportunities to engage a stronger black community in education. Believes Asheville should offer more incentives for businesses that hire people of color.
Julie Mayfield: She is passionate about helping find jobs for people. Points out the Chamber of Commerce’s 5×5 program and believes that incentives need to go to people who are here not people who want to move here. Wants to make sure our transportation system and city infrastructure can support low-income people to get to jobs and daycare opportunities.
Lindsey Simerly: Ban the Box is something that can be done by the city of Asheville to lead by example for every job application except police and finance positions. She believes Asheville can work to help close the achievement gap in schools by supporting early pre-K education. Tourism isn’t necessarily a bad thing but what is bad is outsiders coming in and building hotels and not leaving money inside the city. We need to look as to how we can grow a tourism sector that supports all locals. Points out that the city is not able to force others and can only lead by example.
Rich Lee: Cites the recent “Best and Worst Places to Grow Up” New York Times study that showed Buncombe County as being one of the worst counties in the U.S. for income mobility of children from poor families. The career ladder of Asheville is missing a few rungs – we need jobs for all people and especially for everyone coming out of college or university. Asheville needs to expand opportunities to small businesses and consider the loss of manufacturing jobs. We need to find jobs for people that allows for careers that afford citizens to have a home and invest in living here.
Brian Haynes: It’s a social injustice when a young person can’t find a job and then has to turn to other ways to support their family. We need to quit the war on drugs and help people find quality jobs and improve conditions in neighborhoods. It’s disgusting and unacceptable that 1 in 3 black men will go to prison during their lifetime. We need to improve education and social conditions before these issues will start to fade.
Question: what to do about the lack of opportunities for affordable downtown living?
Julie Mayfield: Affordable housing, transportation and access to food are all parts of affordability. Downtown Asheville and up to a quarter mile outside of downtown needs to increase its density. Middle income people being able to live downtown is key to keeping downtown vibrant. The more people living downtown the more it will feel like home and this can be done through density and expanding the transportation system.
Lindsey Simerly: The Housing Trust Fund (supposed to be one cent of every $100 in property tax) needs to be built back up and the ability to have inclusionary zoning is essential for growth with private developers. Affordable housing allows mixed income neighborhoods to exist which offers many benefits according to studies.
Rich Lee: Housing and transportation should not be higher than half a person’s income. Even with our best efforts on affordable housing it’s only going to meet half our needs so we need to counter with better jobs. Having a low paid servant class commuting 45m both ways to work in the city is not healthy. Asheville needs to secure more living wage jobs.
Brian Haynes: Through his work at Habitat for Humanity they accomplished building a lot of affordable housing. They built 40 houses and fixed 20 more in the Shiloh community. They also built a community garden and started grants to help community governance. This issue can’t be fixed with just affordable housing, you have to have income equality and job creation. Asheville needs to encourage and promote businesses to have living wages. Through investing in local businesses we can increase job opportunities and wages. Income inequality is a nationwide, worldwide problem that will not go away.
Keith Young: Inclusionary zoning, vision as to how we grow, density, and transportation are all necessary. He’s concerned that inclusionary zoning may only work for so long for developers, and that we need to create and revive programs that keep homes permanently affordable. The city should be working closely with Mountain Housing Opportunities and many other organizations. The goal should be to have people not just renting but owning homes, that is how we make sure people invest into their community and not just come and go.
Question: What to do about the decay and repairs of the city-owned Walton Street pool?
Lindsey Simerly: Per the costs of the petitioned for Basilica Park, she believes money should be spent instead on more necessary parks and recreation current needs, specifically the Walton Street pool.
Rich Lee: According to city documents the city has not discussed repairs on the pool since 2009-10. It is going to get a lot more attention and the city should follow through. We need to make sure there is fairness in parks and greenway development.
Brian Haynes: If that is what the community wants the city has the responsibility to fund the means and follow through on their request. If we can find the political will to fix the pool then we can do the same for the basilica park. We can secure volunteers and private money to make not an elaborate park but a community green space.
Keith Young: It’s more than just fixing the pool, we need to invest and fix all the African American neighborhoods. Yes we will fix the pool but there is so much more that needs to be done after the election, specifically supporting education.
Julie Mayfield: Points out the challenges we have to take in allocating city resources between needs and wants. Transportation and safety are needs. Maintaining assets and infrastructure are needs – and that includes the Walton Street pool. It shouldn’t matter how much income it brings to the city, it has value to the community. We need to look hard as to whether we spend money on new fun things versus core needs.
Question: the highlights and lowlights of running for council?
Rich Lee: It has been a rewarding process but his highlight experience is knocking on doors and meeting people and as such learning about and discussing community needs and city policies.
Brian Haynes: Same sentiments as Rich Lee. Impressed by how knowledgeable and engaged Asheville’s citizens are. Too often people get elected and stop listening to the people and he is a candidate that will always listen to all the people of Asheville. The whole campaign process is grueling, it takes a lot of time to campaign but it also rewarding.
Keith Young: It’s rewarding to knock on doors and speak with people even if we end up agreeing to disagree. Challenges are that this takes long hours, especially if a candidate has a day job or family. The public doesn’t see the work you have to put forth, getting up at 5 a.m. and not in bed until 1 a.m.
Julie Mayfield: Her highlight has been walking the streets and finding new neighborhoods. As an environmental lawyer her world had become narrow and now she is reading and studying things she normally would not have the option to otherwise. It’ll be nice to go to bed before midnight.
Lindsey Simerly: The best part is talking to kids and explaining municipal government. Downside is people forget candidates are people who have families and who are here because they love their city.
One minute closing statements:
Rich Lee: We are all here because we love and want to serve our city. We all agree on some things but we all come from different backgrounds. We have to be aware of what our city is actually capable of doing as often state law and budgets are common arguments to initiatives.
Lindsey Simerly: She is full of gratitude for the people who are participating in the system and for the people who came out to hear the candidates speak.
Julie Mayfield: In the seven-and-a-half years she has living here she has fallen in love with Asheville. It’s a transformative time for us and she wants to be a public advocate.
Keith Young: Points out this is the only forum to address the African-American community. The black community is always a resilient community, holding on through so much – it hangs tough to survive. If he wasn’t running for office he would look at the candidates to see who is running for office that he would have access to, who would understand or listen to his and his community’s needs?
Brian Haynes: He applauds everyone who is running. He is running for and wanting to represent all the people of Asheville, and he will never stop listening to all the citizens of Asheville.