SACRAMENTO, California — On the final day of the legislative session, California state lawmakers expressed frustration as key slavery reparations bills stalled, with Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford laying the blame on Governor Gavin Newsom. The debate centers around proposals for a new state reparations agency and the role of the governor’s office in narrowing the scope of the legislation.
Newsom Administration’s Role in Stalling Reparations Bills
Sen. Bradford and other advocates involved in California’s multiyear effort to address institutional racism argue that Governor Newsom’s aides significantly altered the bill. Originally intended to establish a new Freedmen Affairs Agency, the proposal was dramatically narrowed to authorize further study on the issue. Draft amendments obtained by POLITICO revealed that the bill, now aiming to allocate $6 million to California State University for studying the implementation of reparations, has lost its core purpose.
Bradford’s office confirmed the authenticity of the draft and cited cost pressures as the reason for the amendments, with the state needing to trim billions from its budget this year. Newsom’s spokesperson, Izzy Gardon, declined to answer specific questions about the governor’s involvement in the changes, stating only that Newsom has been working collaboratively with the Legislative Black Caucus on the reparations package.
The Legislative Black Caucus and the Future of Reparations
The stalled bills were among over a dozen proposals resulting from the recommendations of the state’s task force on reparations. While several reparations bills promoted by the California Legislative Black Caucus passed the Legislature this year, including measures to create a process for land restitution and to require a formal state apology for slavery and discrimination, the failure of these key bills has caused tension within the Caucus.
Sen. Bradford, who served on the reparations task force, expressed his refusal to accept the governor’s proposed amendments. He suggested that his stance might have pressured other Black Caucus leaders to shelve the bills, expressing his disagreement with their decision to hold the bills due to the administration’s concerns.
Advocates and Lawmakers Respond
The situation has caused an outcry among activists and legislators. Chris Lodgson, a lead organizer for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, voiced his anger at the perceived internal sabotage of the reparations effort. He criticized the approach of the governor and urged him to be transparent if he intends to veto the bills.
Lodgson’s frustration was echoed by others in the Capitol rotunda, where activists confronted lawmakers, urging them to remember the legacy of those who fought for reparations. Despite the current setback, the California Legislative Black Caucus plans to revisit the bills in the next session, indicating that the debate over reparations in California is far from over.
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