Jasmine Beach-Ferrara on the Issues
Policy Background
At its best, policy helps kids, families, and elders thrive and also expresses a community’s shared values. My approach to Buncombe County policy is shaped by listening to the stories of people in our community; the core values of community, equality and opportunity; the expertise of county staff, community leaders and service providers; and evidence-based research.
It’s also shaped by how my life, and the lives of those I love, have been directly impacted by both good policies and bad policies.
As a woman, a LGBT person, a parent, and someone who grew up raised by a single mom who worked tirelessly to make sure I had access to great schools and opportunities, I’ve directly felt the impact of excellent policies - like strong public schools - and harmful ones - like North Carolina’s Amendment One. I've seen friends and loved one impacted by policies around racial justice and access to quality health care.
As the Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, I have significant experience working on local, state and federal policy issues. In Asheville, I was a lead author and organizer of the Equality Resolution which passed in 2011. I was proud to work with a broad coalition of clergy, community leaders and elected officials to build support for this resolution and ensure its passage.
In Buncombe County, I was also proud to work with community members, county employees, and members of County Commission on passing a policy that guaranteed equal treatment to LGBT employees in 2013.
This process included authoring a white paper on recommended policies, meeting with county staff and County Commissioners, and raising public awareness about the need for this measure.
On the state level, I’ve worked to lobby against an array of discriminatory, anti-LGBT bills that have been proposed at the legislature in recent years - from the bill that led to Amendment One, to a so-called “Religious Freedom” bill to Senate Bill 2.
Unfortunately, several of these bills have passed, leading to discriminatory state laws that must be challenged in court. The Campaign for Southern Equality coordinated the lawsuit that struck down Amendment One and is part of the team behind an active federal case challenging Senate Bill 2.
I have also had the opportunity to work around both federal policies and litigation, including meeting with White House staff to discuss LGBT policies in the South, and being part of the team behind a series of amicus briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of marriage equality litigation.
Policy is powerful. But if we are to move the needle on entrenched problems like poverty, good policy must be combined with other approaches - from non-profits, faith communities, the private sector, and community members coming together in new ways.
Policy Priorities
As a progressive who believes in finding common ground, here are three key issues I’ll immediately champion for Buncombe County:
Strong Public Schools Help Kids Thrive
My top policy priority as a Commissioner will be establishing Universal Pre-K Early Childhood Education across Buncombe County. Excellent early childhood education impacts and helps kids throughout their lives, according to ample research. To ensure all children, regardless of economic background, are given the best chance for their futures, we must to create and expand programs so that all preschool age children in Buncombe County have the opportunity to learn.
Public education is a cornerstone of our community; it’s a way to deliver on the promise of equal opportunity to every child in our community. But right now, our schools are suffering because of state budget cuts. Our teachers face depressed wages, among the lowest in the nation in fact. In this context, Buncombe County’s longstanding commitment to supporting our public schools is more critical than ever and must continue at a robust level.
Supporting Working Families
To support working families in Buncombe County, we must lead on paid leave for County Employees. While there are many possible mechanisms to fund and structure such a program, we can no longer wait for national direction. As Commissioner, I will advocate for a reasonable paid leave program for all the County employees and their families so that Buncombe County can lead the way in the State and in the Nation.
Empowering Law Enforcement to Respond to Heroin and Opioid Overdoses
We must use a broad array of tools to help treat people struggling with addiction. Specifically, rising rates of heroin and opioid usage are leading to overdose deaths. Naloxone is a medicine that prevents deaths from heroin and other opioid overdoses. I support providing Sheriff’s Deputies with training in administering Naloxone and ensuring they are carrying it. They are often first on the scene and can save lives. Other counties in North Carolina have already taken this measure to prevent drug overdose deaths and it’s working.
In addition to these top priorities, I’ll focus on the following policies and programs, driven by the core values of opportunity, community and equality:
Expanding Opportunity
Building Community
Achieving Equality
Public policy must be shaped by the the perspectives and lived experiences of our whole community. I understand first hand how policies impact people’s lives and how good policy can uplift and protect people.
I’m honored to have been endorsed by Commissioner Ellen Frost - I have a track record of working with a diverse group of community members and I believe together we can make our community a model for the new South. I look forward to working with County Commissioners on our shared value of making Buncombe County a better place to live and work for every member of our community.
We also need to be responsive to the ever-changing needs of all our citizens. That’s why, as Commissioner, I’ll have an open door to all community members. But now, I want to hear from you. What problems do you think Buncombe County needs to address and what solutions do you think we need to look at?
At its best, policy helps kids, families, and elders thrive and also expresses a community’s shared values. My approach to Buncombe County policy is shaped by listening to the stories of people in our community; the core values of community, equality and opportunity; the expertise of county staff, community leaders and service providers; and evidence-based research.
It’s also shaped by how my life, and the lives of those I love, have been directly impacted by both good policies and bad policies.
As a woman, a LGBT person, a parent, and someone who grew up raised by a single mom who worked tirelessly to make sure I had access to great schools and opportunities, I’ve directly felt the impact of excellent policies - like strong public schools - and harmful ones - like North Carolina’s Amendment One. I've seen friends and loved one impacted by policies around racial justice and access to quality health care.
As the Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, I have significant experience working on local, state and federal policy issues. In Asheville, I was a lead author and organizer of the Equality Resolution which passed in 2011. I was proud to work with a broad coalition of clergy, community leaders and elected officials to build support for this resolution and ensure its passage.
In Buncombe County, I was also proud to work with community members, county employees, and members of County Commission on passing a policy that guaranteed equal treatment to LGBT employees in 2013.
This process included authoring a white paper on recommended policies, meeting with county staff and County Commissioners, and raising public awareness about the need for this measure.
On the state level, I’ve worked to lobby against an array of discriminatory, anti-LGBT bills that have been proposed at the legislature in recent years - from the bill that led to Amendment One, to a so-called “Religious Freedom” bill to Senate Bill 2.
Unfortunately, several of these bills have passed, leading to discriminatory state laws that must be challenged in court. The Campaign for Southern Equality coordinated the lawsuit that struck down Amendment One and is part of the team behind an active federal case challenging Senate Bill 2.
I have also had the opportunity to work around both federal policies and litigation, including meeting with White House staff to discuss LGBT policies in the South, and being part of the team behind a series of amicus briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of marriage equality litigation.
Policy is powerful. But if we are to move the needle on entrenched problems like poverty, good policy must be combined with other approaches - from non-profits, faith communities, the private sector, and community members coming together in new ways.
Policy Priorities
As a progressive who believes in finding common ground, here are three key issues I’ll immediately champion for Buncombe County:
Strong Public Schools Help Kids Thrive
My top policy priority as a Commissioner will be establishing Universal Pre-K Early Childhood Education across Buncombe County. Excellent early childhood education impacts and helps kids throughout their lives, according to ample research. To ensure all children, regardless of economic background, are given the best chance for their futures, we must to create and expand programs so that all preschool age children in Buncombe County have the opportunity to learn.
Public education is a cornerstone of our community; it’s a way to deliver on the promise of equal opportunity to every child in our community. But right now, our schools are suffering because of state budget cuts. Our teachers face depressed wages, among the lowest in the nation in fact. In this context, Buncombe County’s longstanding commitment to supporting our public schools is more critical than ever and must continue at a robust level.
Supporting Working Families
To support working families in Buncombe County, we must lead on paid leave for County Employees. While there are many possible mechanisms to fund and structure such a program, we can no longer wait for national direction. As Commissioner, I will advocate for a reasonable paid leave program for all the County employees and their families so that Buncombe County can lead the way in the State and in the Nation.
Empowering Law Enforcement to Respond to Heroin and Opioid Overdoses
We must use a broad array of tools to help treat people struggling with addiction. Specifically, rising rates of heroin and opioid usage are leading to overdose deaths. Naloxone is a medicine that prevents deaths from heroin and other opioid overdoses. I support providing Sheriff’s Deputies with training in administering Naloxone and ensuring they are carrying it. They are often first on the scene and can save lives. Other counties in North Carolina have already taken this measure to prevent drug overdose deaths and it’s working.
In addition to these top priorities, I’ll focus on the following policies and programs, driven by the core values of opportunity, community and equality:
Expanding Opportunity
- Living Wage Jobs: As our local economy grows, we must recruit employers who pay a living wage and promote a local economy built on living wage jobs.
- Affordable Housing: Buncombe County is facing a crisis with both affordable housing and teacher retention; teacher workforce housing is a solution to this and the county should continue investing in such models.
Building Community
- Community Schools: Local non-profits are already leading essential efforts in our schools and for area youth, such as community health services, initiatives to address childhood exposure to trauma, literacy programs, and nutrition programs. We need to keep building strong partnerships with local non-profits to build community schools, where kids and families can connect with critical resources and services.
- Affordable Housing: Far too many individuals and families struggle to find affordable housing in Asheville and Buncombe County. A study conducted by the City of Asheville in late 2014 found that in our region more than 30,000 households are spending over 30 percent of their gross income on rent, which makes that "cost burdened" by federal guidelines. Two things stand out from that report: 1) "Asheville multifamily rental housing supply is operating at an overall 99.1% occupancy rate." 2) " There are no vacancies among the 3,362 surveyed affordable (Tax Credit and government-subsidized) rental units in the city." Buncombe County must continue to work with non-profit agencies to provide more affordable housing.
- Promoting Gun Safety: We are facing a national crisis related to gun violence. Buncombe County can be more engaged in promoting safety and ending gun violence. As County Commissioner, I will work with the County and with the Sheriff Duncan to distribute gun safety locks to households that request one.
- Treating Addiction as a Disease: The Buncombe County Courts coordinate a treatment court and sobriety court, tested models that help those battling addiction rebuild their lives. These are examples of evidence-based programming that addresses addiction as a disease that can be treated and helps break the cycles of addiction that destroy lives and families. Additionally, the county should explore providing those with addiction problems Stability Housing, a model for providing stable, safe housing where people can receive treatment and support to rebuild their lives.
- Treating Elders with Dignity: Almost one in five residents of Buncombe County is 65 and older and this number is on the rise. Elders are a vital part of our community who have much to offer and also have health and safety needs. As Commissioner, I would advocate for a cross-departmental task-force and work with existing committees to ensure the County services are accessible and appropriate for older citizens.
- Taking Action to Fight Climate Change: Buncombe County has implemented an ambitious plan for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions known as the Energy Independence Initiative. Each year the county will strive to reduce emissions 2% until the 80% figure is achieved. And Buncombe County's five year sustainability plan was adopted in 2012 – this plan outlines 14 goals which include; conserving and protecting our water resources, helping to educate residents on how best to reduce their environmental footprint, preserving farmland, building a local food system and promoting "Buy Local" programs.
Achieving Equality
- Community-Law Enforcement Relations: We need honest dialogue about racial equity and law enforcement, just as we need policies and training that reduce the impact of implicit bias in policies. We need to ensure open lines of dialogue between the Sheriff’s Office and the community to build trust and communication around a shared goal of safe, healthy communities for all. I support creating a permanent committee where residents can have their concerns heard and where law enforcement can address an issue.
- Equal Pay for Equal Work: Nationwide women get paid 77 cents to the dollar that their male counterparts make. Buncombe County can conduct a study of county employees to assess whether women and men are paid equally. If a disparity exists, we should analyze its root causes and how it can be best addressed.
Public policy must be shaped by the the perspectives and lived experiences of our whole community. I understand first hand how policies impact people’s lives and how good policy can uplift and protect people.
I’m honored to have been endorsed by Commissioner Ellen Frost - I have a track record of working with a diverse group of community members and I believe together we can make our community a model for the new South. I look forward to working with County Commissioners on our shared value of making Buncombe County a better place to live and work for every member of our community.
We also need to be responsive to the ever-changing needs of all our citizens. That’s why, as Commissioner, I’ll have an open door to all community members. But now, I want to hear from you. What problems do you think Buncombe County needs to address and what solutions do you think we need to look at?
