Asheville Community Reparations Commission delivers final report; staff to review recommendations for Oct. 14

The Community Reparations Commission presented its final report to Asheville City Council on Sept. 9, outlining 39 reference recommendations and proposing the creation of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to support implementation. The report, delivered by commission members and summarized by City Manager Deborah Campbell, groups recommendations into policy-driven priorities across criminal justice, economic development, education, health and wellness, and housing. The commission said its mission is to make “significant progress toward repairing the damage caused by public and private systemic racism,” and noted it had voted to approve the final recommendations in June 2024. "We, the CRC, believe that we have completed the charge tasked by the City of Asheville Council and Buncombe County Commissioners," a commission presenter said. The commission described key concrete proposals: formation of a 501(c)(3) named "40 Acres: Land of the Sky Alliance Community Development Corporation" to develop affordable housing and economic opportunity; funding priorities for community-based support services and mental-health supports targeted to justice-involved people; grants for legacy neighborhoods and Black-owned small businesses; free, high-quality early childhood education and gifting land for cooperative community development and teacher housing; a dollar-lock housing program; and health measures including transportation for expectant mothers, free clinic access and a Black birthing/healing center. City staff said they would identify which recommendations fall within the city's purview and return to the council with recommended next steps. Salam Anaya Merritt, director of Human Relations, Anti-Discrimination and Compliance, told council that staff will identify recommendations the city can act on and present a resolution on the commission closeout at the Oct. 14 City Council meeting. Commissioners and staff stressed the report was the product of three years of work and of community engagement; the commission also noted the loss of two members during the process. The report was edited and designed by an outside firm and completed in August 2025. Council members thanked the CRC for its work; staff emphasized they will now evaluate which recommendations the city can implement and how to sequence them. Next steps: staff review to identify city-actionable items and a council agenda item for Oct. 14 presenting a resolution and recommended implementation steps.