Asheville Downtown Hosts Public Safety Panel
Asheville Police Chief Mike Lamb, Asheville Fire REST Team Lieutenant TJ Forentberry, ADID Deputy Director Erica Waltemade, Asheville Downtown Executive Director Hayden Plemmons
On September 18th, Asheville Downtown Improvement District hosted our first community event based on significant feedback from the community who expressed a concern for the perception of public safety downtown at this critical time before our fall season. The panel was held at the beautiful YMI Cultural Center Audiorium, bringing downtown stakeholders including business owners, residents, and service providers together with the Asheville Police Department, Asheville Fire Department’s REST Team, and the Buncombe County Continuum of Care.
The conversation was candid and grounded in both reality and hope. Panelists discussed the challenges of homelessness, mental health crises, addiction, and perception of safety. These are issues with no easy fixes that deeply affect both individuals and the downtown experience - but are not unique to Asheville.
ADID’s role was highlighted as a connector and convener, as well as to communicate our role as a new organization, and to see how we could compliment other efforts going on.
Our Ambassadors provide a visible, welcoming presence and help de-escalate issues.
We bridge stakeholders with public safety agencies and outreach providers.
We bring people together, like in this panel, to align on shared goals and practical solutions.
Panelists offered updates, shared success stories, and highlighted how coordination across sectors is key to making downtown safer and more welcoming. They also reminded us that downtown’s challenges are linked to larger issues of housing, mental health, and community resilience — and that progress requires both short-term actions and long-term investments.
Takeaway Resource: We created a Who to Call, When guide to help businesses, property managers, residents, and visitors know exactly how to respond in different downtown scenarios.
