Tiffany DeBellott

Tiffany DeBellott, 29 is Executive Director at the Center for Participatory Change. She has two daughters. She has lived in Asheville for 29 years and currently lives in the Burton Street Legacy Neighborhood.

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

Stability

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?

I would prioritize redevelopment funds toward the people and neighborhoods most impacted and most vulnerable, especially working-class families, renters, small businesses, and historically underinvested communities. Recovery must focus on housing stability, infrastructure resilience, and direct support for families so they are not displaced during rebuilding. We should invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, mental health supports, and local workforce recovery so that redevelopment strengthens Asheville long-term instead of just restoring what was already fragile.

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 priority is expanding anti-displacement protections paired with aggressive affordable housing production. That includes strengthening tenant protections, supporting community land trusts, and requiring affordability in new developments. We must treat housing as infrastructure not a luxury commodity. Policies should incentivize deeply affordable housing, protect longtime residents, and ensure that growth benefits the people who already live here.

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?

In a deficit, the city must protect essential services that keep communities stable: housing, public safety, infrastructure, youth services, and mental health supports. I would start with a transparent line-by-line review to eliminate inefficiencies before raising taxes. If new revenue becomes necessary, it should be balanced and progressive, paired with protections so working families are not disproportionately burdened. The goal is fiscal responsibility without abandoning the residents who rely on city services.

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?

The work of the Community Reparations Commission is one of the most important truth-telling and policy efforts our city has undertaken. Reparations is about repairing documented harm and closing measurable gaps in housing, education, health, and economic opportunity. Even under federal pressure, we can implement race-conscious solutions through place-based investment, economic justice programs, and universal policies that still target the disparities the commission identified. I support continuing the work in a legally strategic way that preserves its intent; equity, accountability, and healing.

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?

Council has addressed many urgent issues, but the pace, coordination, and internal division have sometimes limited the city’s ability to respond at the scale our challenges demand. Asheville needs leadership that can bridge differences and find practical neutral ground so progress doesn’t stall. I would sharpen the focus around housing stability, climate resilience, youth investment, and mental health infrastructure, issues that are deeply interconnected. A city that invests in housing, young people, and environmental protection is investing in long-term stability. My priority is aligning city action around a shared, people-centered vision of well-being.

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

I love Asheville’s creativity, community spirit, and deep culture of grassroots organizing. I want to see more neighborhoods where families can stay, more youth opportunity, more environmental stewardship, and more cross-community collaboration. Asheville thrives when people feel connected and invested in each other, I want to build a city where that sense of belonging is accessible to everyone.