Two years ago, having read the report of the state task force on the lasting effects of anti-Black discrimination and its recommendations for reparations, UUCPA’s Dismantling White Supremacy group decided to keep an eye on the subsequent legislation, especially any bills seeking to redress discrimination in housing. We cannot erase the past, but we can repair much of the damage done over the years of discrimination, and these bills help.
At Dismantling White Supremacy on March 11, we’ll decide on ways we can respond to the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC)’s Road to Repair priorities for 2025. In releasing its package of legislation, the caucus said “The CLBC calls on Governor Newsom, lawmakers, advocates, and the public to stand in solidarity and support these efforts to create long-lasting change for Black communities across California.”
Of the items among the CLBC’s Road to Repair priorities for 2025, these are the ones focused on housing.
AB=Assembly Bill
SB=Senate Bill
(Name in parentheses)=primary sponsor, whose office is usually the best source of information about the bill in question.
• AB 57 (Bonta)—seeks to allocate a portion of Home Purchase Assistance Funds to first-time home buyers who are descendants of American chattel slavery. Track bill here
• AB 62 (McKinnor)—seeks to create pathways for victims of racially-motivated eminent domain to seek redress. Track bill here
• AB 801 (Bonta)—would direct the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, in collaboration with the Civil Rights Department, to identify and address ongoing mortgage lending discrimination. Track bill here
And there’s also a bill that is not about housing, but may also be of interest, as it will help younger Californians learn during their schooling what many of us did not begin to learn until we formed this group:
• SB 510 (Richardson)—seeks to require complete and accurate K-12 curriculum regarding racial disparities, including impacts of segregation, slavery, and systemic discrimination. Track bill here
You can see the full list of bills in the priority package here.
Come to Dismantling White Supremacy on March 11 to help move these forward.