Affordable housing and homelessness have been persistent topics among Asheville residents for many years. With slow progress being made, voters are wondering what the city council candidates would do to alleviate these ongoing issues affecting the area.
In exclusive interviews with 828newsNOW, candidates shared their concerns and plans to improve homelessness and affordable housing.
Candidate responses are listed in the order of which they were interviewed. City council incumbent Kim Roney, who is running for reelection, could not be reached for an interview.
Tod Leaven (D)
“The reason why nobody can afford homes is there aren’t homes,” said Tod Leaven (D).
Leaven said he will not be “pandering to the ‘Not in My Backyard’ crowd.”
He is appalled that “if you’re a teacher… your kids can’t play with the kids you serve because you can’t live there.”
If elected, Leaven plans to treat “homelessness [as] a housing issue” by focusing on building more homes. “I think you get significantly more bang for your buck… creating affordable housing.”
Bo Hess (D)
“Number one, we have to raise the stock of all types of homes,” said Bo Hess (D).
“We have to update our zoning laws,” he said. “They were created based on racism.”
Hess wants to “make Section 8 housing vouchers blind” to prevent discrimination against low-income would-be homeowners.
“We have the creative solutions,” he believes, “we just need young people in office and people who will make bold decisions.”
C.J. Domingo (R)
“While they were busy looking for the perfect solution, [the City Council] left a lot of people in harm’s way,” said C.J. Domingo (R).
Domingo “would like to see an increase in A.D.U.’s” which are Accessory Dwelling Units, second homes built on a single-family plot. He wants the city to give grants for “cookie-cutter,” pre-approved designs and give loans to the builders.
Domingo hopes to change the narrative around “housing development from necessary evil to positive good.”
Kevan Frazier (D)
“We have laws in place to prevent affordable housing,” said Kevan Frazier (D), “That’s the most important change city council needs to do.”
“There’s a whole package of laws that need to be changed to support affordable housing,” he said.
On homelessness, Frazier expressed, “I think we’re on the right path… the issue is the [lack] of [a] low barrier shelter.”
Frazier said he is, “Getting concerned that major initiatives have been taking too much time to get going.”
Sage Turner (D, Incumbent)
“Housing is number one for me,” said Sage Turner (D, Incumbent).
As the current Chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee, Turner said she has focused her tenure on the council on “sustainable growth.”
Turner is concerned about the council’s ability to assist the homeless. “There’s a lot happening… but we’re not the best long-term leaders,” she said. “We’re doing the best we can with the funds we have.”
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