Asheville reparations commission hears 1st results of city, county equity audit

ASHEVILLE – The Reparations Commission recently heard the preliminary results of an equity audit, intended to asses harms perpetuated against Black residents in Asheville and Buncombe County through existing policies, practices and programs. The consultant called it the first known audit of this nature to be funded by a municipal and county government. The $174,375 contract cost was shared between the city and county. Florida-based Carter Development Group was selected to conduct the study, dubbed the “Cease the Harm Audit” by commissioners, and began its work over the summer. Adrian Carter, project lead and founder of the Carter Group, led the Jan. 22 presentation. While the report boasts 70 preliminary recommendations — only 28 of which were shared at the meeting — some of them might look familiar, such as calls for more affordable housing and greater police transparency. But commission members and local activists told the Citizen Times that the report’s recommendations, even those that seem to duplicate ongoing efforts, are vital to ensuring the work actually happens. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil,” said Rob Thomas, executive director of the Racial Justice Coalition of Asheville. “They have to hear it and hear it. Not only the problem, but...