As the year (and the decade) draws to a close, I am called to be quiet. There is much to digest from 2019, and much to dream of for the upcoming seasons. You will likely not see any posts from me for the next month or so. Know I’m percolating more prose for you/us.

Sending infinite gratitude to my Patreon and PayPal patrons who help make it possible for me invest time in writing for collective liberation, and who help me know my work is of value.

Quick “Abolish the TDA” Update

A giant conversation has been generated by my recent pieces in the Asheville Blade and the Citizen-Times calling for the Buncombe County Commissioners to repeal the occupancy tax and end the TDA. For those interested, you can check out the “TDA reading” doc I compiled which has links to the state occupancy tax statues and some relevant press. Here is a post I wrote in response to the pushback I’ve read. Local friends, I hope you will click here to contact your commissioners about this issue. More to come in the new year.

A Few Notes for 2020

Cannabis Culture: A Paneled Discussion About Equity

Save the date! Get your ticket! On Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 6 – 8 pm at the Mothlight, 701 Haywood Road, Culture Club will host “Cannabis Culture: A Paneled Discussion About Equity In the Cannabis & Hemp Industry,” which I helped organize and will be moderating. Tickets are $15, click here to purchase. The panel will examine the intersection of the hemp/cannabis industry as it relates to criminal justice, capitalism, and race. This industry is becoming more and more normalized on a national level, legally creating billions of dollars in revenue in the emerging market. Criminal justice and equity, however, are often an afterthought. Currently the primary financial beneficiaries from hemp/cannabis reform are predominantly white, while the majority of those in prison or with felonies for marijuana convictions are people of color.

In hosting this event, Culture Club hopes to start a conversation in Asheville that will both engage and educate those of us working or spending money in this growing market on how to be responsible allies in efforts to create more equity. 

Panelists will be Z. Smith Reynolds “All for NC” fellow Danielle Adams, Honey Simone of Different Wrld, Michael Hayes of Umoja Health Wellness and Justice Collective, and cannabis lawyer Rob Kight. Rob Thomas, Community Liaison with the Racial Justice Coalition, will also make remarks. 

A percentage of proceeds from Cannabis Culture will go to support the Southerners on New Ground (SONG) Black Mamas’ Bail Out Action. 

Culture Club is a semi-quarterly conversation about a topic we care about brought to you by the people behind Garden Party & Sundries Collective. 

Asheville City Council 2020 elections

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I’m enthusiastically endorsing Nicole Townsend and Kim Roney for Asheville City Council. Visit their websites to find out about their platforms and to get involved.

Community Calendar

Click here for upcoming events, etc. A collaboration with The adé PROJECT.

HAPPY SEASON TO ALL. MUCH LOVE.

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