The California Reparations Task Force recommended payments of up to $1.2 million to every qualifying Black resident<\/p>\n\n\n\n
California Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford is warning African Americans not to get their “hopes up” for massive reparations payments from the state.
Bradford\u2019s message comes after the California Reparations Task Force recommended over the weekend that the state pay up to $1.2 million in reparations to each eligible Black resident.
The state lawmaker, who served on the task force, claimed that it\u2019s possible that Black residents could receive cash payments “if the money\u2019s there,” but argued that receiving million dollar checks in repayment for historical discrimination is “not happening.”
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The reparations panel held a public meeting in Oakland, California, on Saturday and voted on the final set of recommendations to be sent to the state’s legislators.
In addition to the payments, the nine-member panel recommended the state apologize to Black residents.
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., who attended the meeting, stated afterward, “Reparations are not only morally justifiable, but they have the potential to address long-standing racial disparities and inequalities.”
But Bradford told potential recipients not to expect huge payouts when the California government hasn\u2019t figured out where that money would come from.
The state lawmaker from Los Angeles did say that “anything\u2019s possible if the money\u2019s there,” but added he will stay “realistic” about what actual payments may be, according to the Associated Press.
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He told residents to have the same outlook, saying, “I don\u2019t want to set folks\u2019 expectations and hopes up that they\u2019re going to be getting, you know, seven-figure checks. That\u2019s just not happening.”
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Bradford\u2019s comments did rub some people the wrong way. Los Angeles resident and reparations activist Marcus Champion remarked, “That is not the way you come to the table to pay a historic debt. That is not the way that you come to the table in any type of negotiation. Start as high as you possibly can, and then work from there.”
L.A. Democratic Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer echoed Bradford’s caution, saying, “We have absolutely no idea right now what will or will not be approved” by the legislature.
Earlier estimates predicted reparations could end up costing as much as $800 billion, while California’s total annual state budget is roughly $300 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n