State Creates First Reparations Agency in U.S. – Los Angeles Wave Newspaper Group

State creates first reparations agency in U.S. – Los Angeles Wave Newspaper Group

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs Senate Bill 518 as members of the California Legislative Black Caucus look on. Pictured with Newsom are, from left, State Sens. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, D-Los Angeles, Laura Richardson, D-San Pedro; Akilah Weber Pierson, D-San Diego); and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom Courtesy photo By Antonio Ray Harvey Contributing Writer SACAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 518, landmark legislation creating Califo…

California Creates First Reparations Bureau — But Newsom’s Vetoes Leave Questions About Commitment

Quick Takeaways: SB 518 creates California’s Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery — a first-in-the-nation reparations agency. The law builds structure, not substance — no direct payments, property restitution, or mandatory reforms yet. Newsom vetoed other key reparations bills, raising doubts about how far California will go toward true repair. California made history this month when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 518, establishing …

Newsom rejects reparations bills for slavery descendants

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill establishing a state agency charged with determining eligibility for descendants of slavery in California. However, Newsom vetoed related bills that would have provided descendants with preferential college admissions, home loan assistance, and restitution for property seized under eminent domain. The backstory: California once led the push for reparations, creating the first state task force in 2020 to…

‘A Promise Kept’: California establishes Reparations Agency

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill (SB) 518, landmark legislation creating California’s Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery — the first state agency in the nation dedicated to implementing reparations for Black Americans. “A few days ago, I, with a few other members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), met with Gov. Newsom as he signed my bill SB 518 – the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery,” said Sen. Akilah W…