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Resident urges Bedford council to denounce supervisor's reported remarks about affordable housing
Summary
At the Feb. 25 meeting a local landlord told Bedford's Town Council that a Bedford County supervisor called proposed affordable-housing occupants 'the scum of the earth,' and he urged the council to publicly repudiate the comments; council members responded that they disagreed with the supervisor's remarks.
Bill Mosley, who identified himself as owner of Proprietors Group of Bedford, used the town council's public-comment period to urge the Bedford Town Council to denounce recent remarks by a county supervisor about affordable housing.
"He declared that the units would be filled with the scum of the earth," Mosley said, naming Supervisor Bob Davis and quoting the language he said was used at a Bedford County Board of Supervisors meeting. Mosley said the comments singled out Somali men and accused them of violent intent and sexual violence; he said those remarks ran counter to the town's comprehensive plan and urged the council to speak "as one voice" in repudiation.
Several council members responded during the meeting. One council member cited median household-income data for the town and said about half of Bedford households meet median thresholds that would qualify them for affordable-housing programs; others said they considered the supervisor's language wrong. Mayor Stanley said he did not agree with the reported remarks and affirmed the council's limited authority to control actions of the county board but said the council could express its position.
The meeting record does not show a formal resolution or vote condemning the supervisor; Mosley asked the council to act quickly so "memories are short" and the remarks do not go unchallenged. Council responses in the hearing criticized the language and reaffirmed that the town's policies emphasize inclusion and the community's comprehensive plan.
The town did not provide a formal written response during the meeting. The public-comment exchange is the most recent town-council record on the issue; the town has not announced any additional action or formal statement by the council as of the meeting's close.
