Reparations commission member votes ‘no’ on certain recommendations, citing legal concerns

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — On Monday, May 13, the Asheville Buncombe Community Reparations Commission gathered at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville to discuss the latest recommendations. They covered recommendations that focused on education, including early childhood education for Black students and more resources for Black students in post-secondary institutions. Several community leaders said these recommendations aim to rectify injustices done towards those within the African-American community. During the Monday’s meeting, Dee Williams, one of the commission’s members, voted against some of those recommendations, and she wasn’t shy about expressing why. REPARATIONS COMMISSION OFFERS MORE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT NOT ALL MEMBERS AGREE On Saturday, May 18, Williams spoke one-on-one with News 13 to share in more detail why she voted against certain recommendations. “I just wonder what rational process was used to present those a second time when they presented issue the first time, and against legal counsel and common sense,” she said to News 13 on Saturday, May 18. She said she had many questions and concerns as to the negative legal implications these recommendations could have on the community, potentially long-term. “That’s not the way most disciplinary and nonprofit institutions are formed,” she said to the commission Monday during the vote....