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.
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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. “You can put me down for a ‘no.’”
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“I asked them in some of the language that was there — and present in more than one case — where violations of the 14th Amendment and Title 9, and the City Attorney took to the podium and he stipulated that there were some issues that were problematic as far as legal,” Williams said, recounting what took place Monday during the meeting. “Not only the staff peruse these recommendations initially but also legal counsel, is that true? He specified, ‘Yes, we saw these and we made the recommendations as to the legality and so forth, but our job is not to change or tell the group what the recommendations should be.'”
News 13 asked Williams what needs to change in order for her to give the green light on the recommendations.
“The legal challenges will have to be removed,” she answered. “Knowledge that resources are limited, and these recommendations need to be prioritized.”