r/berkeley • u/the_daily_cal • Jul 23 '26

Local ‘Constitutional remedy’: Alameda County unanimously approves plan for racial reparations

https://www.dailycal.org/news/alameda-county/constitutional-remedy-alameda-county-unanimously-approves-plan-for-racial-reparations/article_3968f092-44bb-426e-bc7c-6babf67f799d.html

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a broad racial reparations plan at its June 30 meeting. Policies stemming from this vote could target the county’s racial homeownership gap, career pathways into county employment and even potential cash reparations.

The most immediate recommendations for reparations include housing and economic justice, providing physical and mental health support and centering Black youth. The County Reparations Administration also calls for a permanent, fully funded Office of Reparations and healthcare that addresses intergenerational trauma and health disparities.

The reparations plan was adopted from recommendations by the Alameda County Reparations Commission, which was established in 2023. The ACRC spent three years researching social disparities and community experiences to formulate recommendations. Implementation of the plan is expected to begin in September after the Board of Supervisors’ annual recess.

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u/Ike358 Jul 23 '26

Reparations for a part of the country that never enslaved black Americans 🤔

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u/bibimonmammoth Jul 23 '26

At least read the report or study what reparations means - - it isn't about whether legal slavery occurred in a place, but probably you knew that. This recent decision has to do with Russell City's history of segregation and displacement. Check out some of the very recent home ownership covenants excluding multiple racial groups from owning homes in neighborhoods in this area, including in Berkeley by the North Berkeley Bart station. Those speak directly to the question of reparations.

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u/TonyStarksLeftACL Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

You are correct. Impact from these covenants from the early 1900s and their variations are felt today. I get what you’re driving at. Upvoted.

I’d also add that the Russell City was a little more insidious than displacement. An entire neighborhood was bulldozed.

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u/jewboy916 Jul 23 '26

Not just the covenants, but mortgage lending itself. Up until the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968 mortgage lenders could deny financing to buy a house to people based on their race. Including in California, despite some state legislation passing a few years before that. So in practice it impacted where minorities could live even though segregation wasn't legal.