Among many strange uses of the public treasury approved by members of Asheville City Council Tuesday were:
· Acceptance of $247,500 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to partially cover costs for the construction of a veterans memorial. Only Dr. Carl Mumpower, who chairs the fundraising effort for the memorial, and Brownie Newman voted against the grant.
· An $18,000 HUD grant, “for a study of the feasibility of seeking a HOPE VI grant.†The grant would effect the latest trends in urban renewal where a former attempt at urban renewal had failed. Only about five projects are awarded HOPE VI grants each year. The first consultant contracted to perform the study bailed. “The next step in the process, developing a detailed proposal, would be a major undertaking which would likely cost in excess of $200,000.†Only Mumpower voted against studying odds that were clearly zero.
