Submitted: August 20th, 2026

Theme 1: Community member question: Infrastructure, Mobility, and Neighborhood Maintenance

Community concerns raised: drainage, faded street markings, sidewalks, lighting, bus stops, lead pipe replacement.

Consolidated Question: Many residents have raised concerns about basic infrastructure, including drainage, sidewalks, street lighting, road markings, public transit access, and utility improvements. What specific actions would you prioritize to improve safety, accessibility, and quality of life in Shiloh, and how would you ensure these projects move forward?

As your Councilmember, I have supported neighborhood resiliency. If elected your mayor, I’m committed to doing the people’s work in public with processes that are inclusive and transparent so we share the work and the wins, and I’m committed to setting an agenda that prioritizes the people who live and work here. If we ensure it’s a great place to live and work, it’ll also be a great place to visit. 

It is imperative that the City of Asheville follow through with our commitment to ceasing harm and securing equitable investment in infrastructure. Making this a priority looks like:

1. Honoring and Implementing the Shiloh Community Plan: Significant time and resources went into developing the community plan, and I’ve noticed it’s been a battle to have the plan acknowledged during decisions, often requiring showing up to city hall especially around the vision for development that matches neighborhood character and infrastructure. 

For me, Honoring and Implementing the Community Plan includes proactively showing up and engaging neighborhoods before decisions come to City Hall, to understand and amplify local voices. I hope my showing up to understand and my voting record have gained your trust, including my vote against the Caribou Commons that lacked safe road infrastructure to support it.

The City of Asheville benefits from having Shiloh as a partner in developing anti-displacement tools with the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition, bringing lived and professional experience to the table to preserve existing affordability, update zoning tools, build effective engagement systems, and strengthen neighborhood culture and identity. Anti-displacement tools will benefit our whole city, securing housing and a place of belonging for all. 

2. Funding: This summer, the city completed inventory for the Shiloh Water Service Line Inventory & Replacement project, a first step in implementing $4-million in federal funding to identify and replace lead pipes. The City’s Climate Justice Map includes census data that was used to identify Shiloh for application for the funds. I supported the leadership of Vice Mayor Mosley and Councilmember Smith in allocating additional CDBG grant funding for this project.   

3. First responder living wages: Developed an alternative budget with AM and SS designed for firefighter pay. Living wages are crucial to recruit and retain people to provide excellent service.

4. Lagging Stormwater and lack of access to MSD: being surrounded by high density development without stormwater infrastructure has put homes that are generational wealth building at risk. Hearing continued requests for access to MSD service from neighbors who still don’t have access.

5. Safe commutes for all: Shiloh rec center is in the heart of the neighborhood. Everytime I visit, I see people of all ages crossing the street to the center, garden, and back home. I haven’t forgotten about the unique wooden transit bench that was discarded by the City, and I know more transit benches are needed to make transit accessible. 

Theme 2: Disaster Recovery and Resilience

Community concerns raised: Helene recovery, fallen trees, gaps between FEMA, insurance, and local government support, securing state and federal aid.

Consolidated Question: As Shiloh continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, what lessons have been learned from the recovery process, and what policies or partnerships would you pursue to ensure residents receive the assistance they need and are better protected during future disasters?

1. We Learned More funding is needed
   • $1.1-billion but only 225-million in CDBG-DR. Not surprised at scarcity. It’s not just advocating for funding, which is an important role of mayor but also the responsibility of Council to ensure oversight on how funds are allocated. Who benefits and how are we held accountable?
   • For example the Home repair funds were a serious fumble in communications between the state and city. We  increased funding from $3-million to $22 -m for home repairs, which is key to protecting residents and neighborhoods from disaster-related displacement, especially households with youth, elder, and disabled residents. 
   • I’ve advocated for updated and transparent dashboards so the public can follow along with updates to projects and funding, especially to ensure we’re getting projects done as promised and on time.

2. We were validated in the need for resilient systems: Four months before Helene, I completed my emergency-response training with the Asheville Fire Department. I was impressed by the fire department’s plan, but I also identified 8 vulnerabilities–all of which were used during early Helene response
   • I was able to leverage my relationships in national and local government, business, and non-profit sectors to support systems for communications and public health, getting the level one incident management team here from NYC thanks to leveraging my relationships with elected officials across the county. I’m endorsed by Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger who I worked with on the flush brigade, ensuring disabled and homebound housing authority residents had access to water for flushing.
   • Back in 2022, I worked with Councilmember Smith to get Neighborhood Resiliency adopted as a strategic priority, which influenced the staff work on the climate justice initiative, neighborhood vulnerability index, and her vision for resilience hubs–a new term for a familiar idea, resilience hubs are places where community gathers on good days but also double as hubs for emergency response at the neighborhood level when emergency strikes. 

3. We learned to prioritize existing resources & equitable outcomes: Moving forward, the City should tie neighborhood grants to the climate justice initiative, targeted to reduce our neighborhood vulnerability indexes.

Theme 3: Housing Stability and Aging in Place

Community concerns raised: home repairs, modifications, replacement housing, rising costs.

Consolidated Question:

Many longtime residents want to remain in their homes and community as they age. What will you do to support home repairs, accessibility modifications, affordable housing options, and other resources that help residents age in place safely and independently?

An affordability equation includes good jobs, housing, and transportation options. Building and Maintaining Generational Wealth

• Need to downsize? That shouldn’t mean leaving town. Want to build a tiny home in your yard for a family member? That shouldn’t require an attorney fee.
• Our current zoning makes it difficult to build what makes sense. We have to move forward with Shiloh requests for zoning changes or we could end up continuing the harms of zoning that become the new redlining of today. 
• Alongside passing anti-displacement tools, The Missing Middle Housing Study & Displacement Risk Assessment recommends housing for workers & families that naturally fits in neighborhoods: duplexes, cottage clusters, ADU’s, and smaller, single-family homes that match the neighborhood and fits the infrastructure. 

Transportation options and costs: I do elder care and shillshare on Fridays with my 92-year old veteran friend whose wife is vision impaired. They can no longer drive. Full-time -in-home care costs too much, so they rely on neighbors for support like access to groceries. 

• South Asheville does need additional transit service, but the goal to try to get people who use their cars to instead choose transit meant cutting transit for people who currently rely on transit every day. 
• The transit cuts that were on the agenda August 25th risked the transit options to access MAHEC, Social Security and other health care options, the West Asheville library that’s also a voting location, and jobs and grocery stores on major corridors. 
• It’s not just about having transit as an option in your neighborhood but also making sure you can get to your destination.

As a fellow with New Disabled South, I know that all of us will experience disability at some point in our lives, even if for just a short period of time. That’s why partnering with organizations like AARP, ABIPA , Arc of Buncombe, and Council on Aging is important for securing a network of community care, and with Habitat for Humanity to improve housing accessibility.

Theme 4: Land Use, Property Rights, and Neighborhood Preservation

Community concerns raised: UDO, eminent domain, right-of-way policies, preserving

neighborhood character.

Consolidated Question:

How would you balance growth and redevelopment with protecting the character, history, and

property rights of existing residents, particularly in neighborhoods like Shiloh that are experiencing gentrification?

I’ve been wrestling with this. I want to tell a good story, a hopeful story, and a true story.

Years of Council agendas and votes have profited corporate development and landlords, protecting some neighborhoods from development while others bear the burden–maps that mirror urban renewal and redlining. If elected mayor, I will set an agenda prioritizing the people who live and work here so everyone has a place to belong. I can’t do the work alone, but I’m committed to inclusive, democratic, and transparent processes that restore public trust so we can share the work and the wins.

1. The Sword & Shield 

I will continue to fight for more housing while protecting against displacement.

• Asheville must approach housing like the crisis it is while protecting against displacement.
• I support building housing for workers and families connected to good paying jobs where there’s infrastructure to support it, 
• and I support anti-displacement tools recommended by the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition, including: The $3-million in home repair funds just approved, partnering for downpayment assistance, stronger community engagement systems and overdue infrastructure maintenance.
• Solutions like repairing a roof or foundation, building an ADA accessible ramp or updated bathroom, or getting a home up to code and providing downpayment assistance can be more cost effective than subsidizing an apartment in a new building for the same household. 

By preserving existing affordability, we benefit our whole community. This includes partnerships with neighborhoods and community groups like Habitat for Humanity and the AB Community Land Trust for long-affordability that stabilize households and neighborhoods.

2. A Pathway to Home Ownership is part of the affordability equation

• The pathway to ownership is a crucial step to building wealth, but affordable homes won’t be built on unaffordable land.
• If the City is serious about affordable housing, will do more than flimsy overlays that might not hold up in court and listen to the neighborhood zoning request, then implement the Affordable Housing Plan that’s been stagnant for 2 years. 
• This could include smaller, single-family homes that sound like the ones in the Shiloh community plan, empowering locals to preserve and build starter homes in their neighborhoods so everyone belongs.

Theme 5: Community member questions: Affordability and Taxes

Community concerns raised: property taxes, inflation, financial pressures on homeowners.

Consolidated Question:

Many residents are struggling with rising costs, including property taxes, insurance, and inflation. What actions would you support to help ensure longtime residents can continue to afford living in Shiloh?

1. Property Taxes: I voted against this year’s budget because it cuts hours to community centers, and perpetuated wage disparities in city hall. I agree with vice mayor Moseley that we could have done a deeper dive in the city’s budget to reduce the burden of property taxes. 

Property taxes should be fair, but in our county the burden falls hardest on renters and historically Black and working-class neighborhoods. 

I’ve consistently supported the City’s partnership in the County’s Homeowner Assistance Grant, which is now the General Assistance Program for housing, utility or emergency relief:  “You may qualify for up to $500 […] If eligible, these funds may be used to address short-term financial hardships. Payments are made directly to the source of the approved bill.”

For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit:  gap.buncombenc.gov.

2. Healthcare Must Put Patient Care Before Profit

Healthcare is the largest industry in the Asheville area, but HCA/Mission’s owners are failing our community. I stand with unionized nurses and Reclaim Healthcare to demand accountability, safe staffing levels, and patient care over profit margins.

I also support competition for HCA through a non-profit hospital being awarded the certificate of need.

We must continue to support and invest in community partners like ABIPA and AARP who play a pivotal role in providing community care for aging adults.

3. Living Wages & an Economy That Works for Locals

Affordability is a national crisis, and Asheville’s housing costs and stagnant wages make us more vulnerable. I understand addressing affordability starts with diversifying our economy beyond tourism, supporting local businesses, and prioritizing living wages. 

4. The Mayor’s Seat, at A Powerful Table

The mayor serves on the Economic Development Coalition (EDC), deciding what kind of jobs we have in Asheville–shaping regional decisions about business growth, career development, and attracting new employers.

Endorsed by the WNC Labor Council, I will use the EDC seat to advocate for living wage and union-supportive employers, paths to career development, and hiring locals so workers and families can afford housing.

5. Diversifying Beyond Unchecked Tourism

Asheville has a long history of tourism. Our guests are attracted to our art, music, culture, food, craft, and relationship with nature. 

Unchecked tourism causes harm: burdens our infrastructure, extracts resources, and displaces residents. 

I’ll fight to protect what makes Asheville special by diversifying beyond tourism for a more balanced economy. This is why I’ve consistently supported funding economic recovery for local businesses to grow and thrive and the growth of local manufacturing jobs.

6. What the City Can Do About Your Utility, Grocery, and Tax Bills

• Fair water rates & Keeping the Water On

Keeping Asheville’s water system working is a public health issue.

For three years, I successfully fought for fairer water rates because Asheville residents were covering bulk discounts for the largest users. 

I also support monthly billing to catch leaks faster, make bills more accurate, and make household budgeting easier.

• Standing up to Duke Energy

Duke Energy keeps being allowed to raise our electric bills, raking in billions for shareholding owners. 

I filed a complaint with the NC Utility Commission demanding accountability for Duke Energy rate hikes.

Asheville deserves fair electric rates that are invested in modern infrastructure and renewable energy so our grid is reliable through extreme hot, cold, windy, or rainy weather.

• One Bad Day Shouldn’t Result in Eviction

Many Asheville residents are one emergency away from losing housing.

I practice mutual aid—neighbors helping neighbors—but I also know systemic problems require strategic solutions. 

I have championed rental assistance on Council. As Mayor, I’ll have a seat on the Continuum of Care board, where I’ll prioritize rental and utility assistance to prevent evictions and homelessness.

• What Can the City Do About Your Grocery Bill?

I support local farms, tailgate markets, and mobile markets on City-owned property. I want to make it easier for communities to grow food, include garden space in new development, and explore a city-owned grocery store. 

I have also consistently supported bringing Costco to Asheville to help keep grocery and gas costs down.

Theme 6: Accountability

Community concerns raised: "What have you done for me already?"

Consolidated Question:

Looking back on your service to date—or your work in the community if you;re not currently serving—what accomplishments demonstrate your commitment to addressing the needs of Shiloh residents?

As a member of Council, I’ve supported funding for parks, transit, home repair funds, downpayment assistance, and support for the land trust.

My leadership is collaborative governance. This looks like showing up in community on the good days and the hard days so we share the work and the wins. During the 2022 water outage, I hauled water to neighborhoods over the holidays in a friend’s truck to make sure neighbors had water to drink and flush, and supported community-led efforts in Shiloh.

During disaster response post-Helene, I made daily calls to Kamala Harris’s admin assistance with updates from the reality on the ground, lifting up your issues and cutting through the noise. I’m continuing to work alongside families, entrepreneurs, and businesses through recovery to make the money that flows gets to the people it was designed for.

The Mayor Sets the Agenda: If elected mayor, I’m committed to setting an agenda that prioritizes the people who live and work here. This means scheduling the hard conversations our community needs to have and inviting local subject matter experts to partner with staff, not just hiring out of town consultants. I’ll push to  increase transparency, hold regular press conferences; advance open meetings policy; and increase accessibility of public documents and engagement opportunities. I’ll end the regularly-scheduled, behind-the-scenes Council check-in meetings; and shift to a public pre-meeting process so decision making is more transparent and inclusive.

AARP-Focused Question

By 2030, one in five North Carolinians will be age 65 or older. What is your vision for making Shiloh a community where residents can remain in their homes, stay connected, and maintain their independence throughout their lives?

This invites broad discussion without being overly prescriptive.

My answer to this question is woven into the answers above.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit these responses to the important questions our community is facing. I believe we can take better care of our neighbors and mountain home, and our greatest resource is our neighbors.