Asheville Fire and Rescue boasted answering 15,377 calls for service in 2008. The volume is representative of cities with twice Asheville’s population. Chief Greg Grayson said the International City/County Management Association “challenged our data because it was so out of synch with data from across the country.”

Rather than celebrating, Councilman Dr. Carl Mumpower asked why the city was having so many incidents. Brownie Newman said the cause was a no-brainer. It was the city’s daytime population. Asheville’s daytime population is 149% its residential population, Wilmington’s is 139%. Though Asheville’s percentage is highest, Cary is the only NC city with a population over 50,000 that experiences a net exodus during the day. Asheville’s population does not double, nor does it double all day. In fact, the increase in daytime population by itself should only cause Asheville’s calls for service to be about 10% higher than in other places.

Mumpower tried to break down the political correctness of staff. He is the only member of council who views public safety as that body’s number-one charge. Police Chief Bill Hogan finally conceded that his officers are seeing new faces in the homeless crowd. Other municipalities admit to shipping their homeless persons to Asheville because Asheville is an excellent provider of social services.

Mumpower asked the chief to explain how the state might contribute to a high number of emergency calls. Hogan told the worn-out tale of mental health reform in the state turning people out to the streets with no escape from their torment but street drugs. Addictions lead to lives of crime, and there are not enough detox beds to meet the current demand. The courts are under-staffed, so many criminals are turned loose on the streets to commit more crime.

Mumpower concluded, “So the state, instead of stealing the city’s water system, could help best by addressing the court system.” This was the beginning of a string of invective intended to capture media attention. The city recently lost its lawsuit against Buncombe County and the state, which requested the repeal of the Sullivan acts. The acts, signed minutes before the termination of the regional water agreement, prevent Asheville from charging differential water rates, diverting water revenues to the general fund, and using city water as an incentive for voluntary annexation.

Other members of council drew up a list of proposals to present to the General Assembly to alleviate the burden of the Sullivan acts. Mumpower objected to the “surrender document,” saying the legislative delegation was abusing its powers to obstruct justice. He used harsh language, saying he hoped to hurt feelings and incite citizen outcry against the ruling.