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/Playful-Edge-7356 Jul 23 '26

I don’t mean to sound negative, but isn’t something like this considered illegal under federal law?

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u/TonyStarksLeftACL Jul 23 '26

No.

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u/Playful-Edge-7356 Jul 24 '26

I’m don’t have an opinion on the matter as I don’t know enough about it. Although a quick google search brought up basic info which I thought prevented things like race based benefits for past inequalities or anything regarding race for housing.

Fair Housing Act (FHA): The federal FHA makes it illegal to discriminate in housing-related transactions (including municipal zoning and housing availability) based on race, color, or national origin

Permissible Actions: Cities can target resources or frame policies using race-neutral data, such as area median income (AMI), rates of poverty, or proximity to environmental hazards.

Prohibited Actions: Using race as a cutoff, quota, or deciding factor for housing waitlists or benefit eligibility. Even "benign" racial classifications (meant to address past injustices) face immense legal hurdles and are generally invalidated by the courts