Amid Controversy, Black Caucus Stalls California Reparations Bills

By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer

Black Californians gathered at the Capitol on Aug. 31 expecting to celebrate the passage of two historic reparations bills. However, what started with optimism turned into protests when the bills were stalled by the California Legislative Black Caucus.

Chris Lodgson, an advocate with the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, was present that day. He described the situation as “a political disaster.”

“It’s our own people holding this up,” Lodgson said.

Advocates such as Lodgson were waiting for Senate Bills 1403 and 1331, both authored by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), to be called for a vote. SB 1403 aimed to establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency to compensate Black Californians who are descendants of enslaved people. SB 1331 proposed creating the Fund for Reparations and Reparative Justice in the state treasury to finance related policies.

At the last minute, someone from Bradford’s office informed Lodgson of a problem: the caucus was concerned that the governor might veto the bills.

An uproar ensued in the Capitol’s hallways.

As Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer emerged from the gallery, laughing and shaking his head, people began heckling and shouting at him for not bringing the bills to a vote. Jones-Sawyer told The OBSERVER that he responded with a smile and a wave as a way of dealing with harassment and threats directed at Black Caucus members and staff.

“I went high while they went low,” he said in an email.

Lodgson emphasized the importance of the two bills for achieving reparations. He noted that one reparations bill that passed (SB 1050) provided compensation for Black Californians whose land was stolen through eminent domain, but it required the affairs agency proposed in SB 1403 to be fully effective.

“Without these bills, you don’t get reparations,” Lodgson said. “Everything else is just filler.”

At the beginning of the week, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office sent draft amendments for SB 1403 and SB 1331 to Bradford’s office. One proposed amendment suggested authorizing a study by the CSU instead of creating the affairs office, citing budget deficit concerns.

Bradford told The OBSERVER that he and his staff did not accept the governor’s proposed amendments.

Some caucus members were concerned about a governor’s veto if the bills were brought to the floor in their current form. Bradford, however, heard no indication of a potential veto.

“It wasn’t from the governor’s office; it was from [Assemblymember] Lori Wilson’s office that was concerned about a veto,” Bradford said.

Newsom’s office would not comment on whether he would have vetoed the bills and told The OBSERVER that the governor can act only on legislation that reaches his desk.

Earlier this year, the governor said his office had been and was working closely with the Black Caucus on its reparations bills.

“I really can’t stress how good of a working relationship we have – Lori Wilson and others have been just magnificent – and we continue to work through this,” Newsom said at the time.

Wilson, the caucus chairperson, claimed the bills simply weren’t ready.

“That’s what stalled the bills,” she said. “We had run out of time to make the amendments.”

The two bills had progressed through the legislative process without issue until the session’s final week. Wilson explained that it is common for bills to move forward while negotiations continue.

“As long as people are talking and negotiating, lawmakers will allow your bill to keep going,” Wilson said.

Though Bradford acknowledged that, he said there was plenty of time for caucus members to raise concerns they may have had.

“Nobody in the Black Caucus ever raised an issue with the bills until last week,” Bradford said.

Kamilah Moore, who chaired the Reparations Task Force that delivered an 1,100-page report to the legislature, explained that internal divisions between Bradford and the caucus, along with the governor’s amendments, led to the bills being stalled.

Moore, who worked with Bradford on the task force, does not blame him for the bills not passing.

“Instead of opting for simpler bills, he aimed high and introduced some of the stronger recommendations,” Moore said.

SBs 1403 and 1331 were not part of the original reparations package proposed by the CLBC at the beginning of the year. Bradford’s decision to bring up these bills independently caused a rift between him and the caucus.

Bradford said every other caucus member adopted SBs 1331 and 1403 in May and that they were authored by all members.

However, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor expressed strong disapproval, accusing Bradford in an L.A. Sentinel opinion piece Sept. 6 of causing “more damage to our collective efforts” than any other legislator.

She did not name Bradford, but tacitly criticized him for introducing “his own reparations bills” that were not part of the caucus’ agenda.

“Despite our efforts to remain unified, one member of the caucus chose to hold a separate press conference, causing unnecessary division when we needed to stand together,” McKinnor wrote.

“No one member is more important than the California Legislative Black Caucus as a whole,” Jones-Sawyer said when asked about the issues with the bills. “We, the CLBC, will get reparations done.”

Bradford was shocked and hurt by the perception that he was undermining the reparations effort. He insisted he was committed to the work and not grandstanding.

“It’s all about doing the work, and that’s what I’ve done for 25 years as an elected official,” Bradford said.

Moore remains optimistic about the long-term goal of cash reparations for Black Californians.

“Ironically, I think this accelerates the movement,” Moore said.

Moore noted that many Californians once saw reparations as an improbable dream, but the progress of these bills has demonstrated their feasibility.

“These bills were very close to the governor’s desk. I think people realize this is a real movement and reparations could happen within our lifetime,” Moore said.

The caucus released a statement reaffirming its commitment to the long-term goal of reparations, acknowledging that it remains a multiyear effort.

“The work of advancing reparations and achieving justice for Black Californians is far from complete, and we will not be distracted from our mission,” the Black Caucus said in a statement. “We will stay focused on the work at hand, united in our purpose, and dedicated to the cause of reparations and equity for all. The CLBC will continue to lead with integrity and purpose, ensuring that our legislative efforts are impactful and meaningful for the communities we serve.”