California’s Reparations Task Force has unveiled a shocking $800 billion plan that includes sweeping housing policies. The task force wants to eliminate crime-free housing policies and chronic nuisance ordinances, which it claims are racist. It also wants all municipalities to turn over their residential land use ordinances to a state agency for review, with the agency having the power to reject them if they are found to “exacerbate levels of residential racial segregation.” The plan includes financial subsidies for black residents and a “right of return” policy to give preference to black people displaced by “agency action, restrictive covenants, and racial terror.” Will these radical policies lead to the government takeover of your neighborhood?
The California Reparations Task Force’s proposal includes a number of controversial housing policies that would drastically alter the real estate industry.
Chapter 22 of the proposal demands that all municipalities turn over their residential land use ordinances to a state agency for review. The agency would have to approve each ordinance and could reject them if they are found to “exacerbate levels of residential racial segregation.” The task force alleges that zoning ordinances are used to keep black residents out, so the state agency must provide oversight on any new ones and review all existing ones.
The task force has also taken issue with crime-free housing policies, which bar renters with a criminal history or cause renters to face eviction if they become involved in any crimes or drug-related activities. The report alleges that the practice is racist because the proportion of white renters evicted isn’t proportional to their share of the population. Chronic nuisance ordinances, which encourage landlords to make excessive noise an evictable offense, are also targeted for elimination.
The task force suggests removing the ordinances altogether or drastically changing the criteria. It also details plans for financial subsidies in regard to housing for black residents. The task force goes on to suggest implementing a “right of return” policy as well, which would greatly preference black people displaced by “agency action, restrictive covenants, and racial terror.”
The task force wants the legislature to enact measures to support a right to return for those displaced by agency action, restrictive covenants, and racial terror that drove African Americans from their homes. The right to return would give the victims of these purges and their descendants preference in renting or owning property in the area of redevelopment. The right to return would extend to all agency-assisted housing and business opportunities in the redevelopment project area.
Task force member Lisa Holder wrote in March that aside from the monetary aspect, the other proposals included in the task force’s proposal would be revolutionary. “Reparations will include programs that disrupt racism within our major institutions. These programs will be in housing, criminal-legal systems, education, health and medicine, and financial wealth and asset-building infrastructure. Fixing systemic racism and rehabilitating institutions will require major changes to these sectors,” she wrote.
The California Reparations Task Force’s $800 billion reparations plan with radical housing policies is causing outrage. The task force wants to eliminate crime-free housing policies, chronic nuisance ordinances, and give a state agency oversight on zoning ordinances. It also suggests providing financial subsidies for black residents and a “right of return” policy. These policies could lead to the government taking control of the real estate industry and threaten property values. The task force’s proposals are misguided and extremist. Stay vigilant against these dangerous policies and hold elected officials accountable. Remember, fair reparations should not come at the cost of individual rights and freedoms.
