Gavin Newsom breaks silence on $800 billion proposal from California reparations task force: Report

Brady Knox

May 10, 12:46 AM May 10, 12:52 AM

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) responded to the California Reparations Task Force's $800 billion proposal on Tuesday, arguing that the issue was about "more than cash payments."

Newsom had been quiet on the task force's proposals, which he had created back in 2020, in response to the fallout from the death of George Floyd. He broke his silence when he gave a statement to WHD News that praised the work of the task force.

HOW MUCH IN REPARATIONS ARE THE CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS TASK FORCE PROPOSING?

The reparations task force voted on Saturday to approve a reparations model that is estimated to cost the state over $800 billion, just in monetary payments.

"Dealing with that legacy [of slavery] is about much more than cash payments. Many of the recommendations put forward by the Task Force are critical action items we’ve already been hard at work addressing: breaking down barriers to vote, bolstering resources to address hate, enacting sweeping law enforcement and justice reforms to build trust and safety, strengthening economic mobility — all while investing billions to root out disparities and improve equity in housing, education, healthcare, and well beyond. This work must continue," Newsom said in a statement to WHD News.

"Following the Task Force’s submission of its final report this summer, I look forward to a continued partnership with the Legislature to advance systemic changes that ensure an inclusive and equitable future for all Californians," he continued.

The reparations plan includes a slew of suggestions that suggest revolutionary change across every aspect of society, but the aspect most focused on has been the massive monetary payments to black citizens.

Though the total price tag has not been approved by the state legislature, or Newsom himself, the latest proposal could see payments of up to $1.2 million sent to black residents. The new proposal aims to send payments on a structured system based on the amount of time spent in California, and the number of alleged harms committed against them.

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If the $800 billion price tag is correct, it would represent over two times the entire state's budget, as California struggles with a significant deficit.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to Gavin Newsom for comment.

California reparations task force votes to approve restitution plan

Asher Notheis

May 06, 08:55 PM May 06, 08:55 PM

California's reparations task force voted on Saturday in favor of a reparations program, the first of its kind in the United States.

The committee of nine members voted to give final approval a plan with detailed explanations for how restitution should be made to victims of systemic racism, housing discrimination, mass incarceration, and health care inequities. The plan now goes to state legislature for approval. If passed, it could mean hundreds of billions of dollars in payments to black residents of the Golden State.

STIMULUS CHECK UPDATE: DIRECT PAYMENT WORTH $800 TO BE PAID OUT TO RECIPIENTS IN NINE DAYS

Calculations provided ahead of the vote showed that black residents who have lived in California their whole life and are 71 or older could receive up to $1.2 million in payments.

The proposed payments released on Wednesday revealed various alleged harms the committee seeks to atone for on behalf of the state of California, with all of the alleged harms varying depending on the time spent in California.

Those who have suffered from health-related harms would receive $13,619 for each year spent in California, with descendants eligible for the payments. Payments for those who were victims of alleged over-policing from 1971 through 2020, meanwhile would be entitled to $2,352 for each year living in California during that time, with a maximum amount of $115,260.

The task force's report is due to be released by July 1.

Ahead of Saturday's voting, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) applauded the recommendation of paying reparations to black residents in the state, calling the move a “human right” that has been “long overdue” for decades.

“Reparations are not a luxury for our people, but a human right long overdue for millions of Americans,” Lee said during a meeting with California's Reparations Task Force on Saturday. “The atrocities committed against black Americans are undeniable, and reparations are a tangible route to acknowledging and making amends to the glaring economic and social impacts of slavery and systemic racism. We must repair this damage.”

Barbara Lee applauds California reparations as a ‘human right long overdue’

Cami Mondeaux

May 06, 01:43 PM May 06, 01:43 PM

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) applauded the recommendation of paying reparations to black residents in California, calling the move a “human right” that has been “long overdue” for decades.

“Reparations are not a luxury for our people, but a human right long overdue for millions of Americans,” Lee said during a meeting with California's Reparations Task Force on Saturday. “The atrocities committed against black Americans are undeniable, and reparations are a tangible route to acknowledging and making amends to the glaring economic and social impacts of slavery and systemic racism. We must repair this damage.”

CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS TASK FORCE DRAFT PROPOSES UP TO $1.2 MILLION PAYMENTS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS

Lee’s comments come just hours before the task force is set to vote on its recommendations for a formal apology for California’s role in perpetuating slavery in the United States and the subsequent discrimination that followed. The proposal was calculated by a consulting team of five economists and policy experts that was created by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) in 2020.

The task force is expected to approve the package on Saturday, sending the proposal to state legislators for final approval.

The reparations proposal comes after Newsom signed legislation in 2020 to create a task force assigned to calculate the economic damages of racially biased policies in the state. That move was met with mixed reactions, as some supported reparation payments while others pushed back on such steep costs.

Lee pointed to the economic fallout caused by slavery, including the “lack of generational wealth due to racism” that “has severely impacted the lives of African Americans.”

“There is no equality without equity,” Lee said. “Reparations are not only morally justifiable, but they have the potential to address long-standing racial disparities and inequality.”

Lee’s comments come as the California Democrat eyes a run for Senate in the Golden State to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who will retire after her term ends next year. Lee faces at least two challengers after Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) also announced their intent to run for the seat, setting the stage for a competitive primary.

The 12-term representative is expected to make diversity a key tenet of her campaign, using her campaign announcement to highlight the lack of black female senators after Vice President Kamala Harris’s departure in 2021. During her comments on Saturday, Lee pointed to her previous efforts to pay reparations and other efforts to “establish the truth, racial healing, and transformation.”

“I want to applaud you all for taking the leap because California is leading on this issue,” Lee said. “I call on all lawmakers and citizens to support federal and state level legislation that aims to provide reparations for those who have historically been marginalized and had to deal with the impact of hundreds of years of being enslaved.”