A call for a reconstituted community relations council for Asheville

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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From Ashvegas reader Andrew, who wants to see the Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council revived. The nonprofit has been lifeless since the unexplained departure of its executive director, Bob Smith, several months ago. Board members have been mum, and there’s been little public discussion of where to go next. Andrew says he’s working with Asheville City Council members to figure out what’s next. Aside from its work on social justic issues, the community relations council has performed a vital task required by the federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development – investigating complaints about public housing. If the council isn’t performing that task, another agency must take it up.

Here’s Andrew:

A number of people over the past several months have been trying to get the City Council to cal call for public input and participation in the creation of a new and diverse community relations council. We have had little or no success in this regard. It is our understanding that the City and County has removed the housing investigations from the the CRC which frankly leaves it essentially dead in the water without funds or very little. Not only this but there are no staff people in the CRC office to even answer the phone. From what I have been told by “informed sources” the City has already rejected one plan for reorganization and are now awaiting another one. …

How are the social justice issues of our community being addressed? …

The time is now. All that is required is for the City Council to call for the necessary public input and then to create from that input a new and vitally important diverse organization that we have been asking for over these past several months.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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