Asheville, North Carolina ia basically a commune. This week the city known as the “Portland of the South” officially declared June 19 to be the “Juneteenth” holiday. That seems like a fine idea until you hear what all they attached to that simple plan.
“At a meeting that started with a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth in Asheville, City Council allocated $2.1 million toward funding a reparations effort that’s just getting off the ground, the Asheville Citizen Times reported this week.
“We must collectively strive to close gaps of immeasurable distance between us and affirm the promise of the Declaration of Independence that all people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” said Mayor Esther Manheimer.
Not good enough, said woke residents, who would prefer to #DefundThePolice.
During a public hearing on the city’s planned $201.7 million budget, speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the amount, saying the $2.1 million is not enough and that divesting from the city police department would be a form or reparations.
Others said the money could be better spent, including that $2.1 million could create eight Black homeowners and that with the proposed tax hike, they’re being priced out of the city instead.
What a mess. And we didn’t even get to the “Truth Telling sessions”. Yeah not kidding.