Palm Springs Approves $5.9 Million Reparations Settlement

The Palm Springs City Council has approved a historic $5.9 million reparations settlement for Black and Latino families displaced in the 1960s during urban renewal efforts that demolished homes in Section 14, a predominantly minority neighborhood. This decision follows a formal apology issued in 2021 and a long-fought battle by the Section 14 Survivors group for accountability. The settlement includes cash payments to around 1,200 eligible claimants and plans for a memorial park and cultural healing center to honor the displaced families. Despite the initial claim for $2.3 billion in damages, the settlement is viewed as a significant acknowledgment of the past injustices and a step towards reconciliation. Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein expressed satisfaction with the settlement, emphasizing its fairness and the city’s commitment to addressing historical injustices. The agreement marks one of the few instances of reparations being offered by a municipality in the U.S. for racially motivated displacement.