Consent M. Ordinance amending the Human Relations Commission of Asheville membership and appointment process to remove the required number of individuals from the various identified groups and to expand the list to be more comprehensive of the diverse Asheville community.

The proposed update removes the required numbers of individuals from the various identified groups and expands the list to be more comprehensive of the diverse Asheville community. The HRCA voted 7-2 to amend the ordinance on 7.21.22 and the Boards and Commissions Committee voted 3-0 to move forward to City Council on 8.23.22 with the recommendation to include Indigenous People on the list of identified groups.

This goes against everything the HRCA commission is supposed to represent. If they vote to approve this, it will weaken the structure forcing the city to find representation that cannot speak directly to certain issues such as LGBTQ, BIPOC, ETC. This is working against its purpose of social and racial justice. Here is what they are voting to remove: The Human Relations Commission of Asheville (HRCA) will be composed of fifteen members, which should reflect the groups of individuals that the human relations program is intended to protect. City Council will endeavor to appoint city residents meeting the following criteria:

6 African Americans

2 Latinx individuals

2 members of the LGBTQ community

2 youth members, between the ages of 18 and 25

2 to 3 individuals who live in public housing

2 individuals with a disability

3 individuals who are recognized as community leaders