Urgent Funding: TDA Must Direct Resources Properly

TL/DR –

The author of the article criticizes the Tourism Development Authority’s (TDA) spending habits, calling them excessively lavish and not effectively contributing to the betterment of Asheville. The author suggests that TDA should instead invest their funds into local organizations that help the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and other underprivileged groups. The author argues that reducing the number of homeless people and improving the city’s living conditions will make Asheville more attractive to tourists.

Sally Kestin’s Investigative Reporting on Asheville’s Tourism Tax Spending

An investigative report, ‘VIP Treatment: Tourism Tax Money Buys Massages, $250 Shirts and Dinners Costing Thousands’, by Sally Kestin from Asheville Watchdog, has led to questions regarding excessive spending by Asheville’s Tourism Development Authority.

Having experienced multiple decades in complex sales, it’s clear that a well-conducted marketing strategy can generate interest and drive revenue. However, the questionable spending by the Tourism Development Authority, as detailed in Kestin’s report, appears to be grossly excessive.

An Alternative Proposal for Asheville’s Tourism Development Funds

A more effective use of these funds could be to support local Asheville organizations such as Homeward Bound, ABCCM, Helpmate, BeLoved Asheville, and Trinity Place. These groups aid the unhoused, victims of domestic violence, and other disadvantaged members of the community, helping them secure safe housing and access resources to become productive members of society.

Despite Asheville’s marketing efforts, the rising number of street dwellers and aggressive panhandlers has deterred tourists. Directing funds towards these local organizations could potentially reduce the unhoused and underserved population, making Asheville a more appealing destination for tourists.

— Michael Breck
Asheville

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