Contra Costa County Maps Racially Restrictive Property Covenants

Contra Costa County has launched the 'Mapping Prejudice' initiative in partnership with the University of Minnesota's Mapping Prejudice Project to identify and map racially restrictive covenants embedded in historical property records. These covenants, now illegal, were originally used to exclude non-white individuals from owning or occupying property, contributing to ongoing patterns of segregation and inequality. The project is a response to California Assembly Bill 1466, which mandates county recorders to develop plans to identify and redact discriminatory covenants. The county has reviewed 9 million records, flagging thousands for potentially restrictive language, and will engage community volunteers to transcribe and map these findings using a digital portal. Clerk-Recorder Kristin Connelly emphasized the initiative's focus on community education and engagement, aiming to confront this hidden history and understand its lasting impact on neighborhoods. Volunteers are trained to participate, fostering dialogue and awareness about the historical roots of housing discrimination in Contra Costa County.