Keith Young

Keith Young, 46, is a Deputy Clerk of Superior Court, a policy strategist, a nonprofit founder, a documentary filmmaker, an artist, a Soros Equality Fellow, and a Harvard Community of Practice member in Implementing Public Policy. He is a lifelong Asheville resident who lives in East End. He has three children.

In one word, what is the top issue that is motivating you to run for Asheville City Council?

Execution

The region is still recovering from Hurricane Helene — and likely will be for a long time. Considering that resources will be limited, where do you prioritize putting the redevelopment funds?

With limited resources, I would prioritize infrastructure first because it is the foundation for every other part of recovery. That means water and sewer reliability, stormwater and drainage, slope stabilization, and repairing the roads, bridges, and sidewalks that keep neighborhoods connected and safe. I would also prioritize saving the housing we already have by filling documented insurance and FEMA gaps so families can repair and recover in place and we do not permanently lose homes. Results matter and execution matters, so I would set clear project timelines, measurable targets, and public reporting so residents can see what is getting fixed, where, and by when.

One of the biggest issues facing Asheville is lack of affordable housing. What is your top policy change that you think would help address the situation?

My top policy change is to legalize more “missing middle” housing citywide by right, garage apartments, duplexes, triplexes, and small four unit buildings, when they meet clear objective standards. That adds housing options faster and lowers costs by cutting red tape and delays. I would pair it with faster permitting and inspections so units actually get built, and with permanent affordability tools using public land and the community land trust so growth reduces displacement instead of accelerating it.

The city is facing a budget deficit of at least $30 million. How would you prioritize allocating what funds the city does have? Is there a section of the budget where you would make budgetary cuts, or would you choose to raise property taxes?

With a $30 million budget gap, I would prioritize the basics first: water and sewer reliability, stormwater and drainage, slope stabilization, roads, bridges, and safe sidewalks. I would also prioritize saving the housing we already have by filling documented insurance and FEMA gaps so families can repair and recover in place and we do not permanently lose homes after Helene.

I would tighten the belt for one year on a wide range of non infrastructure spending, pause and defer lower priority items, avoid new recurring commitments, and partially fund some items until later in the budget cycle to create real savings that lower next year’s baseline.

On taxes, I would not treat a property tax increase as the first move. I would only consider it after disciplined holds and efficiencies, and only if it is paired with protections for the most vulnerable homeowners and a clear explanation of what the money funds. Results matter and execution matters, so every major item should have clear timelines and public reporting so residents can see what is getting fixed, where, and by when.

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County spent years working on a reparations plan for Black residents. Now the federal government is withholding funds from any entity that refers to DEI or that singles out a specific race for any special consideration and is actively discouraging DEI initiatives in local government. What is your feeling about the work the Community Reparations Commission produced? Would you implement its recommendations considering the federal restrictions? How?

I wrote the policy framework that became Asheville’s 2020 reparations resolution, and I served on the Community Reparations Commission, so I know this work is serious and actionable, not symbolic. I support the Commission’s recommendations and would implement them. Given current federal restrictions, I would implement in a legally durable way that protects funding for core services and recovery. Where federal dollars create risk, I would advance the same goals through impact targeted programs tied to documented harm and need, such as legacy neighborhoods, income, displacement risk, and specific barriers. For recommendations that must be explicitly race centered, I would use local and private dollars with careful legal review. Results and execution matter, so implementation would include clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and public reporting.

Do you think the current City Council has prioritized the right issues? If yes, why are those the right issues? If not, where would you re-direct the focus?

Not fully. I think the current Council has been right to focus on recovery, housing, and big community needs, but the city has not been focused enough on execution and basic services. I would re direct the focus to infrastructure reliability and resilience, water, stormwater, roads, slopes, sidewalks, and the systems that keep Asheville functioning. I would also focus on housing delivery with faster permitting and clear rules that add more homes while preventing displacement. With a major budget gap, I would put performance and accountability at the center, clear priorities, measurable targets, and public reporting. Results matter, and the city has to get back to delivering them consistently.

What do you love about Asheville that you want to see more of?

I love Asheville’s sense of community and creativity, the way neighbors show up for each other and the arts are part of daily life, not an afterthought. I want to see more of that spirit turned into results: more affordable places for working people to live, more small businesses that can survive and grow, and more safe, connected neighborhoods where you can walk, bike, and gather without feeling shut out. I want more of the Asheville that is welcoming, resilient, and practical, a city that gets big things done and still feels human.