By Antonio Ray Harvey
Contributing Author
SACRAMENTO — Two weeks after the state Legislature went dwelling till after the November elections, members of the California Black Legislative Caucus say that they’ll re-introduce two reparations-related payments subsequent yr when the brand new legislative session begins.
Gov. Gavin Newsom got here to the protection of some caucus members who have been focused by indignant protesters after two reparations payments — each authored by state Sen. Steven Bradford, D-Inglewood — have been withdrawn from a flooring vote within the Meeting on the ultimate day of the this yr’s legislative session.
On Sept. 7, Newsom mentioned it was “disgraceful” for anybody to unleash their frustrations on the Legislative Black Caucus.
“There have been members of that Black Caucus which might be owed an apology for being handled the best way they have been handled … to be personally maligned and attacked,” Newsom mentioned. “I’ve nice respect and admiration for the management of the Black Caucus and members of the Black Caucus.”
Newsom’s feedback got here after Senate Payments 1403 and 1331 — payments that had beforehand superior with minimal opposition by means of Senate and Meeting committees — have been pulled from the Meeting flooring on the final minute Aug. 31.
SB 1403 proposed the creation of a brand new state company known as the California American Freedmen Affairs Company. That company, one of many California Reparations Activity Pressure’s 115 suggestions, could be answerable for figuring out eligibility for reparations and administering authorities processes associated to compensation.
SB 1331 would set up an account for reparations within the State Treasury for the aim of funding reparations insurance policies accepted by the Legislature and the governor. Neither a type of payments have been part of California Legislative Black Caucus’ preliminary reparations precedence bundle of 14 payments introduced final January.
Nevertheless, in line with a letter obtained by California Black Media, the caucus added SB 1403 to the bundle in Could. In the identical letter, the Black Caucus requested that the state present $6 million to assist fund efforts associated to SB 1403 and one other $6 million to the California Black Freedom Fund, a $100-million nonprofit initiative centered on eradicating systemic and institutional racism within the state.
9 reparations payments included within the Black caucus bundle handed and have been moved to the governor’s desk for his consideration. These payments embody SB 1050, authored by Bradford, which might enable California to evaluation and examine complaints from people who declare their property was taken with out compensation because of racially motivated eminent area. It handed from the Meeting flooring
on a 73-0 vote.
Assemblywomen Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood, a member of the Black caucus, wrote an opinion article sharing her perspective on why the Legislature didn’t advance SB 1403 and SB 1331. McKinnor didn’t point out Bradford by title, however it’s clear from context that she was referring to the creator of the 2 payments in query.
“From the outset, a Black caucus member labored in opposition to the CLBC’s efforts,” McKinnor wrote. “Days after the CLBC launched its reparations legislative bundle, a Black caucus member launched his personal reparations payments, not a part of the CLBC’s work, and spent months making an attempt to barter away the $12 million that the CLBC had secured on this yr’s state funds for his personal mission.”
Bradford appeared on varied media platforms as effectively with accusations directed at his CLBC colleagues. Bradford instructed Roland Martin, the favored media host on his podcast, that each one the members of the caucus had signed on as co-authors of SB 1403 in Could.
“It’s most likely essentially the most heartbreaking, disappointing time I’ve skilled within the Legislature,” Bradford instructed Martin on his “Unfiltered” present Sept. 4. “You’re taught early ‘don’t fall in love together with your payments.’ I didn’t fall in love with this invoice, however I felt what this invoice meant not solely to Black Californians however Black Individuals.”
Assemblyman Issac Bryan, D-Culver Metropolis, one other CLBC member, confronted the music and confirmed up at a city corridor assembly held Sept. 5 on the Los Angeles Heart for Black Energy in Leimert Park. Bryan mentioned the gang yelled at him, however he understood the neighborhood’s frustrations.
The following day, Bryan appeared on Dominique di Prima’s KBLA 1500 AM radio present to elucidate why the Black caucus didn’t push for the payments to get an Meeting flooring vote.
Bryan mentioned the caucus had a variety of considerations that included “last-minute amendments” to SB 1403 requested by the governor that weren’t instantly shared with the Black lawmakers. Absent legislative oversight, a possible veto and no options for longtime funding of the reparations program, Bryan mentioned he was nonetheless in favor of bringing the payments to the Meeting flooring for a vote, however the caucus collectively determined in opposition to it. In the long run, he revered the members’ motion.
“On a private degree, I had no drawback sending the payments to the governor,” Bryan instructed di Prima. “However I believe while you’re transferring in solidarity, not simply together with your colleagues in Sacramento, however throughout the neighborhood and there are disagreements, strategically, you’ve obtained to make the most effective selections you possibly can.
“On this specific occasion, there was a choice collectively by a majority of the caucus to not transfer on (SB 1403 and SB 1331) this yr.”
One other invoice that was part of the reparations bundle, Meeting Constitutional Modification 8, authored by Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, D-Suisun Metropolis, was accepted by each homes of the Legislature and can seem on the Nov. 5 poll. If accepted by voters, ACA 8 will erase language within the state Structure that legalizes involuntary servitude, ending compelled labor in prisons as a punishment for crimes. ACA 8 will seem on the poll as Proposition 6.
Antonio Ray Harvey is a reporter for California Black Media.
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