Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have helped Black families reclaim or receive compensation for land that was seized unfairly by the government.
This was a blow to a key part of a package of reparations bills that the California Legislative Black Caucus supported this year, after a state reparations task force made 115 recommendations to lawmakers.
On this week’s “In Focus SoCal,” host Tanya McRae sits down with State Sen. Steven Bradford who authored the eminent domain bill that Newsom vetoed.
Bradford introduced the eminent domain bill after the successful return of Bruce’s Beach in 2022 to the descendants of a Black couple who had the beachfront property seized through eminent domain a century ago.
Members of the Black caucus blocked two other bills that were introduced separately by Bradford, which were key components of the state’s efforts to atone for racism and discrimination against Black Californians.
Senate Bills 1403 and 1331 would have created a new agency and also a fund to help implement policies recommended by the state task force.
“We just continue to advocate and educate the public as to the importance of the agency. It was one of the foundations of the 115 recommendations from the task force,” Bradford said. “I was adamant about the fact that two things needed to happen in order for reparations to be real,” said Senator Bradford.
The senator, who will be termed out at the end of this year, expressed his disappointment that the two bills were blocked but affirmed his determination to move forward.
“I’m going to keep hope alive and keep working and being supportive any way I can once I’m termed out at the end of this year to move reparations in a real meaningful way here in California for the rest of the nation to follow.”
Also on this week’s show, McRae talks to Isaac Jean-Paul, a Paralympic track and field athlete who is back home from Paris with a silver medal and an inspiring story to tell. Jean-Paul is legally blind and competes in the men’s long jump T-13 category.
“Being around all those incredible athletes of the Paralympics just reminds me about how we can become our own superhero, and how anything is possible,” Jean-Paul said. “And the way that we can change our challenges, our obstacles, into moments that can make us shine even brighter. It’s just so amazing.”
Jean-Paul dedicated his win to his grandmother, who passed away last year. When he got back home, he gave his coach, Timothy Bowman, an honorary medal and the same jersey that he wore in Paris. Jean-Paul also promoted his book “Maya’s Marvelous Day at the Games,” which he wrote and dedicated to his daughter.
“I wanted to be an example for my daughter and show her that if you believe in yourself, you can truly accomplish anything.”
Send us your thoughts to InFocusSoCal@charter.com and watch at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. on Sundays.