California recently announced that it will allocate nearly $12 million for reparations as part of a new budget plan.
Approved by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, the reparations budget is part of a larger $297.9 billion budget. Although it has not yet been said what the rest of the budget will be for, the $12 million could potentially or would have to be in addition to running the reparations agency dedicated to handing out funds.
According to the Assembly Committee of Appropriations, keeping the reparations agency running each year would cost the state of California anywhere from $3 million to $5 million. Costs would also be devoted to investigating claims by those seeking reparations.
Widespread direct payments to Black Americans are not expected to be made this year as of now.
“We often say the budget is a reflection of our values and our priorities, so the fact that there’s any money for reparations should be a reason for celebrating,” said Los Angeles-area Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford after adding that he would have liked the allocation to be more than $12 million.
The recent announcement for the funds comes as other states are also working to implement reparations for Black Americans. Although not many states have gotten as far as California in their campaigns and consideration, earlier this year, lawmakers in New York announced the names of the people to be appointed to the nine-member task force dedicated to studying the impacts of enslavement and the reach that reparations it would have.
An Illinois city is credited with launching the first government-funded reparations program in the U.S. Started in 2019, the city of Evanston’s reparation program has provided Black residents with $25,000 in response to the city’s history of housing segregation and discrimination from 1919 to 1969.
The program is now under attack by the conservative group Judicial Watch. In a newly filed lawsuit against the program and the city, the group is attempting to argue that, under the program’s guidelines, applicants having to prove that they or their ancestors are Black violates the Fourteenth Amendment.
Citing the Equal Protection Clause, Judicial Watch is attempting to remove race from being considered in the requirements while also advocating for the program to be declared unconstitutional.
As part of the case, the plaintiffs are also asking for $25,000 in damages.
The city of Evanston is expected to defend the lawsuit to protect the reparations program.
