How much in reparations are the California Reparations Task Force proposing?
Brady Knox
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California’s Reparations Task Force, assembled in the wake of the fallout surrounding the death of George Floyd in 2020, is voting on its most ambitious reparations package yet on Saturday, May 6.
The Saturday meeting at Mills College at Northeastern University in Oakland, California, will see a vote on a range of new, costly reparations proposals.
Here is everything you need to know about the California Reparations Task Force.
CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS TASK FORCE DRAFT PROPOSES UP TO $1.2 MILLION PAYMENTS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS
What is the California Reparations Task Force, and are their proposals binding?
The California Reparations Task Force is a nine-member group, comprising eight black members and one Asian member, created through Assembly Bill 3121 on Sept. 20, 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd riots. The force was tasked with researching California’s liability in racist practices that affected the black community and coming up with a proper figure of financial compensation.
The task force has been given given the authority to hold hearings, hear witness testimony, and request the production of evidence.
The purpose of the committee is “(1) to study and develop reparation proposals for African Americans; (2) to recommend appropriate ways to educate the California public of the task force’s findings; and (3) to recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the Task Force’s findings,” according to its website.
Despite their appointment by California’s government, the state has no obligation to go through with any of the task force’s proposals. The group has a deadline of July 1 to present its final report to the California legislature, which will then put it to vote. If passed, it will be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) office to sign.
What is the task force proposing in terms of reparations?
The task force has so far recommended a wide variety of reparations measures, including massive monetary payments, debt forgiveness, and programs dedicated specifically to black residents.
The aspect most focused on have been the colossal monetary payments, the total sum of which has still not been decided on. The latest proposal could see payments of up to $1.2 million sent to some black residents, and significant sums to others. The new proposal aims to send payments on a structured system based on the amount of time spent in California, and the number of alleged harms committed against them.
For example, victims of alleged “over-policing” from 1971 through 2020 would be entitled to $2,352 for each year living in California, with a maximum total of $115,260. Victims of housing discrimination from 1933 to 1977 would receive $3,366 per year, up to a total of $148,099.
However, the monetary compensation is only the beginning. Task force member Lisa Holder wrote in March that aside from the monetary aspect, the other proposals would be revolutionary, and touch upon every aspect of society.
“Reparations will include programs that disrupt racism within our major institutions. These programs will be in housing, criminal-legal systems, education, health and medicine, and financial wealth and asset-building infrastructure. Fixing systemic racism and rehabilitating institutions will require major changes to these sectors,” she wrote.
“With specific and tangible reparations initiatives, California is on the brink of a historic and seismic shift towards finally delivering justice for Black Americans,” she continued. “The task force recommendations will be breathtaking. They must be nothing less.”
How much would the reparations cost?
The final price tag of the reparations is still under speculation. While a ballpark figure can be reached for the monetary payments, the full cost of the multitude of programs being proposed is difficult to calculate.
The calculation of the monetary total in March, prior to the newest proposals, came to a final cost of roughly $640 billion. A more recent estimate put the cost at around $800 billion; nearly 2.5 times the entire state budget of California. All this comes as the state faces a $22.5 billion budget deficit for the coming fiscal year.
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Will the reparations proposals be approved?
The immense cost of the proposals make them unlikely to be passed by the legislature when put to vote in July. If they do get past the legislature, likely in a narrow vote, it will then go to Newsom’s desk, who seems hesitant to even address the issue, despite approving the task force in 2020.
The California governor has been silent on the issue, as he struggles between fiscal responsibility and appealing to his liberal base. If he declines to approve or lend support to the proposals, he risks angering the same people he pleased when approving the task force three years ago.