Newsom spent $2.5M and 2 years on reparations plan before backing out.

California Governor Refuses to Implement Task Force’s Recommendations on Reparations

California Governor Gavin Newsom created a task force on paying reparations to African Americans in 2020, but has now declined to endorse its recommendations. The task force, which was funded by the state to the tune of $2.5 million, spent months drafting proposals on how to compensate black Californians for generations of discrimination. However, after the panel voted to approve a set of recommendations expected to cost the state at least $800 million, Newsom refused to implement them.

Task Force Struggles to Reach Conclusions on Reparations

Newsom had appointed five of the task force’s nine members and had previously praised its work. However, he vetoed a bill to extend its work by a year in 2022, citing frustration with the panel’s inability to agree on a final plan. The task force had recently upped the potential payment to black residents to $1.2 million, but Newsom stated that “dealing with the legacy of slavery is about much more than cash payments.”

Building a More Inclusive and Equitable Future for All

Newsom had initially established the task force during the Black Lives Matter protests, stating that it was a step in the “right direction to building a more inclusive and equitable future for all.” However, he now seems to have changed his stance on the issue of reparations. The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.

Task Force’s Recommendations

The task force’s recommendations on reparations are expected to cost the state at least $800 million and include:

• Cash payments to black Californians
• Investments in education and housing
• Support for black-owned businesses

Despite the task force’s efforts, it remains to be seen whether California will take any action on reparations for African Americans.