The Human Relations Commission of Asheville (HRCA) is a group of individuals who have been appointed by the City Council to advise on matters of equity and inclusion. Ironically, the commission has been criticized for its lack of diversity. Read more about this lack of diversity here – in a blog post by the WNC Citizens for Equality.
At their November 17, 2022, meeting, the commission began discussing a proposal to recommend that Asheville City Council adopt an ordinance based on NC House Bill 170 – the CROWN Act. The bill seeks to prohibit discrimination against persons based on traits historically associated with race, hair texture, or hairstyle. Do you think that is a real problem in our state and city?
The HRCA voted unanimously at their March 16, 2023 meeting to “strongly recommend the Asheville City Council swiftly and decisively accept the ASHEVILLE CROWN ACT”. Similar bills have been passed in other states (including California and New York) that aren’t known for common sense in governing.
At HRCA’s July 20 meeting, Alayna Schmidt (City of Asheville Equity & Inclusion Consultant) reported that the recommendation will be reviewed at the upcoming meeting of the City Council’s Equity and Engagement committee on August 15. This meeting will determine whether the recommendation should be moved along to the full city council for a vote.
- Do you agree with the HRCA’s recommendation?
- Do we really need these folks sitting together in a government building trying to conjure up ways to convince citizens that “white supremacy” is alive and well in our city and that it must be addressed with urgent city ordinances?
- What does it say about our city that it spends staff and volunteer time fabricating and then solving “problems” like this one?
Consider signing our email petition to the City Council members so they know voters are watching in disbelief.
They say that Nero fiddled when Rome was burning, Which, if it were so, was a mad thing surely; For surely fiddlers, when Rome was burning, Might have found better things to do than fiddling. - John Owen, 1563
Note: Based on the city’s latest vacancy flyer, there appears to be at least one opening on the committee.
