By Antonio Ray Harvey
Contributing Writer
SACRAMENTO — Two weeks after the state Legislature went home until after the November elections, members of the California Black Legislative Caucus say that they will re-introduce two reparations-related bills next year when the new legislative session begins.
Gov. Gavin Newsom came to the defense of some caucus members who were targeted by angry protesters after two reparations bills — both authored by state Sen. Steven Bradford, D-Inglewood — were withdrawn from a floor vote in the Assembly on the final day of the this year’s legislative session.
On Sept. 7, Newsom said it was “disgraceful” for anyone to unleash their frustrations on the Legislative Black Caucus.
“There were members of that Black Caucus that are owed an apology for being treated the way they were treated … to be personally maligned and attacked,” Newsom said. “I have great respect and admiration for the leadership of the Black Caucus and members of the Black Caucus.”
Newsom’s comments came after Senate Bills 1403 and 1331 — bills that had previously advanced with minimal opposition through Senate and Assembly committees — were pulled from the Assembly floor at the last minute Aug. 31.
SB 1403 proposed the creation of a new state agency called the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency. That agency, one of the California Reparations Task Force’s 115 recommendations, would be responsible for determining eligibility for reparations and administering government processes related to compensation.
SB 1331 would establish an account for reparations in the State Treasury for the purpose of funding reparations policies approved by the Legislature and the governor. Neither one of those bills were a part of California Legislative Black Caucus’ initial reparations priority package of 14 bills announced last January.
However, according to a letter obtained by California Black Media, the caucus added SB 1403 to the package in May. In the same letter, the Black Caucus requested that the state provide $6 million to help fund efforts related to SB 1403 and another $6 million to the California Black Freedom Fund, a $100-million nonprofit initiative focused on eradicating systemic and institutional racism in the state.
Nine reparations bills included in the Black caucus package passed and have been moved to the governor’s desk for his consideration. Those bills include SB 1050, authored by Bradford, which would allow California to review and investigate complaints from individuals who claim their property was taken without compensation as a result of racially motivated eminent domain. It passed from the Assembly floor
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 did not advance SB 1403 and SB 1331. McKinnor did not mention Bradford by name, but it is clear from context that she was referring to the author of the two bills in question.
“From the outset, a Black caucus member worked against the CLBC’s efforts,” McKinnor wrote. “Days after the CLBC introduced its reparations legislative package, a Black caucus member introduced his own reparations bills, not part of the CLBC’s work, and spent months attempting to negotiate away the $12 million that the CLBC had secured in this year’s state budget for his own project.”
Bradford appeared on various media platforms as well with accusations directed at his CLBC colleagues. Bradford told Roland Martin, the popular media host on his podcast, that all the members of the caucus had signed on as co-authors of SB 1403 in May.
“It’s probably the most heartbreaking, disappointing time I’ve experienced in the Legislature,” Bradford told Martin on his “Unfiltered” show Sept. 4. “You’re taught early ‘don’t fall in love with your bills.’ I didn’t fall in love with this bill, but I felt what this bill meant not only to Black Californians but Black Americans.”
Assemblyman Issac Bryan, D-Culver City, another CLBC member, faced the music and showed up at a town hall meeting held Sept. 5 at the Los Angeles Center for Black Power in Leimert Park. Bryan said the crowd yelled at him, but he understood the community’s frustrations.
The next day, Bryan appeared on Dominique di Prima’s KBLA 1500 AM radio show to explain why the Black caucus did not push for the bills to get an Assembly floor vote.
Bryan said the caucus had a number of concerns that included “last-minute amendments” to SB 1403 requested by the governor that were not immediately shared with the Black lawmakers. Absent legislative oversight, a potential veto and no solutions for longtime funding of the reparations program, Bryan said he was still in favor of bringing the bills to the Assembly floor for a vote, but the caucus collectively decided against it. In the end, he respected the members’ action.
“On a personal level, I had no problem sending the bills to the governor,” Bryan told di Prima. “But I think when you’re moving in solidarity, not just with your colleagues in Sacramento, but within the community and there are disagreements, strategically, you’ve got to make the best decisions you can.
“In this particular instance, there was a decision collectively by a majority of the caucus to not move on (SB 1403 and SB 1331) this year.”
Another bill that was a part of the reparations package, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8, authored by Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, was approved by both houses of the Legislature and will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. If approved by voters, ACA 8 will erase language in the state Constitution that legalizes involuntary servitude, ending forced labor in prisons as a punishment for crimes. ACA 8 will appear on the ballot as Proposition 6.
Antonio Ray Harvey is a reporter for California Black Media.
