California city to vote on $6M reparations plan for Black and Latino

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Families affected by the razing of Section 14 of Palm Springs in the 1960s may see reparations after a city council vote on Thursday.

The one-mile area of land, which was owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, was destroyed by local officials in the interest of commercial land development. Between 1965 and 1967, the fire department demolished 230 structures where black and Latino families lived, at a time when discriminatory housing rules dramatically limited options for people of color.

Nearly 60 years after being forced out of their homes, former residents of the area have accepted a nearly $6 million reparations settlement. The package also contains an additional $21 million for programs such as business and economic development and housing.

The city has also pledged $20 million to help first-time homeowners with”affordable homeownership,” as well as creating a community land trust for underprivileged residents. Those who lived in the Section 14 area, as well as their descendants, will receive priority access to these funds.

While residents have long maintained they were given little to no notice of eviction before being removed, a state investigation in 1968 determined that the city did show “civil disregard” for its minority citizens, but did not commit any crimes with their conduct. Officials only admitted wrongdoing in 2021, offering a formal apology for the evictions.

“While no amount of money can fully restore what we lost, this agreement helps pave the way for us all to finally move forward,” said Pearl Devers, organizer of the survivors’ group.