Declaration of Policy Principles

1) Commit to serving the people of Asheville with honesty and insight based on foundations built from research of public opinion, global perspective, and personal integrity.

2) Insure all persons have the rights and opportunities to equally benefit from the resources afforded to us by society and our shared environment.

3) Actively dismantle barriers of oppression including racism and classism, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which deny fair treatment or equal justice under municipal laws.

4) Maintain a responsible and responsive local government, which governs with broad citizen participation and according to public planning.

5) Practice government fiscal responsibility, which means the dedication of public money for public good.

6) Commit to green economic and technological sector growth as a means to create and implement the best ideas applicable to and available in the 21st century. Encourage individual initiative to bring opportunity, economic growth, and prosperity to the city of Asheville.

7) Encourage a sense of ecological balance between responsible use and protection of natural resources,

a) Promote the understanding that we as a community must respect and live within our natural resource limitations.
b) As such, support a sustainable society which uses resources in such a way that following generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of the present moment.

8) Encourage opportunities to improve individual health and well-being, knowing that the strength of our city lies within the honor of each citizen’s dignity, freedom, abilities, and responsibility to ecological balance and social harmony.

9) Promote a successful economic system that offers dignified, meaningful work that pays a living-wage, reflects the real value of a person’s work and time, and encourages private industry to do the same.

a) Prohibit over reach of cooperate power into and influence of government.
b) Support independently owned and operated companies that act socially responsible, as well as public enterprises, co-operatives, and non-profit organizations that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.

10) Provide the people of Asheville with a fighting and tireless champion of our rights as citizens, workers, and human beings.