San Francisco‘s proposal for $5 million reparation payments has garnered nationwide attention, but there is widespread disagreement over the plan.
The San Francisco chapter of the NAACP called for the city to reject the proposal. The group argued for investments and opportunities for the black community instead of direct payments to black residents.
SAN FRANCISCO CONSIDERING $5 MILLION PAYOUT REPARATIONS PLAN
“We strongly believe that creating and funding programs that can improve the lives of those who have been impacted by racism and discrimination is the best path forward toward equality and justice,” San Francisco NAACP President Amos Brown said in a statement.
The organization called instead for investment in education, “economic empowerment,” public and affordable housing, healthcare, and a “black center of town” in the Fillmore Heritage Center.
Other detractors of the proposal include radio host and former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder, who quipped how, theoretically, a black college student in the area could benefit from the $5 million reparation payment, the government ensuring all full deposits in Silicon Valley Bank, and President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan.
Let me get this straight. A black college educated San Franciscan, with money in the Silicon Valley Bank, gets full reimbursement though his deposit exceeds FDIC’s $250K limit, receives $5mil in reparations AND gets student debt loan forgiveness. Is this a great country or what?! pic.twitter.com/4VzAYmJOHx
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) March 15, 2023
“Let me get this straight. A black college educated San Franciscan, with money in the Silicon Valley Bank, gets full reimbursement though his deposit exceeds FDIC’s $250K limit, receives $5mil in reparations AND gets student debt loan forgiveness. Is this a great country or what,” Elder tweeted.
Former San Francisco mayoral candidate Richie Greenberg slammed the reparations plan as illegal under five state and federal laws. He argued the proposal violates California Proposition 209, Article 34 of the state constitution, Title VI and VII of the federal Civil Rights Act, and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
My recent follow-up letter to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors outlining the violation of CA State and Federal laws and unconstitutionality of the SF Reparations Plan, and demand the Board REJECT the Plan. (You can also visit https://t.co/De7ATyn2FF for up-to-date insight). pic.twitter.com/kW4Pk0rAIh
— Richie Greenberg (@richieSF2016) March 14, 2023
The city Board of Supervisors debated $5 million payments and other programs for black residents, including the elimination of personal debt and tax burdens, guaranteed annual incomes of at least $97,000 for the next 250 years, and homes in the city for $1 per family.
The proposed $5 million payment to black residents has been decried for being an arbitrary figure.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“There wasn’t a math formula,” the chairman of the African American Reparations Advisory Committee, Eric McDonnell, told the Washington Post.
“It was a journey for the committee towards what could represent a significant enough investment in families to put them on this path to economic well-being, growth, and vitality that chattel slavery and all the policies that flowed from it destroyed,” he added.
The reparations committee, which has proposed these solutions, will meet monthly until June. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold its next meeting on potential reparations on Sept. 19, but it is unknown when a vote on a proposal will occur.
