PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — The Palm Springs City Council has unanimously voted to approve a compensation package of $5.9 million for Black and Latino families who were displaced from their homes in the 1960s. This decision comes after these families decades later led efforts to seek restitution for their losses.
The council’s recent decision also allocates $10 million toward a program that assists first-time homebuyers and another $10 million to fund a community land trust. Additionally, a monument will be erected to honor the history of the area known as Section 14, which was once a vibrant neighborhood for many Black and Mexican American families.
Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein emphasized the significance of this move, stating, “We are taking bold and important action that will create lasting benefits for our entire community while providing programs that prioritize support for the former residents of Section 14.”
Although the specific amounts each affected family or individual will receive is still undetermined, attorney Areva Martin, who represents over 300 former residents and their descendants, mentioned that funds for housing assistance will primarily benefit low-income residents of Palm Springs, with priority given to those formerly from Section 14.
Section 14 was located on a Native American reservation and was home to many families until they were forcibly removed. Residents have recounted instances of homes being burned or demolished and receiving abrupt orders to leave. In an effort to address these past injustices, the city council formally apologized for its role in the displacement back in 2021.
In 2022, displaced families filed a tort claim against the city, seeking $2.3 billion in compensation for the hardships they experienced. They compared this devastating event to the violence faced by the prosperous Black community of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, over a century ago, which resulted in significant loss of life and property. However, it’s important to note that, in contrast, there were no reported deaths related to the displacement from Section 14.
