Letters To The Editor

Pardon Madness

If you recall, Trump also pardoned Bannon, Stone, and a bunch of other criminals (what should we expect a criminal President to do). Well, he’s also now waving around potential pardons to others who have been indicted in all the other cases against him. That seems to me to be “witness tampering” – plain and simple. AND promising “retribution” to whomever “comes after him.” 

Another scary thing for me (and is making my stomach queasy), is all the people (about 1200) who are now in prison or did some time, will get pardons as well. If those guys get out and he’s in office, you can probably make a safe bet that they will come after the judges and DAs and those in the Justice Department to get their “revenge.” 

IMO, what our country unleashed when Hillary lost, is a madman, a criminal billionaire, and a genius at manipulating our no-so-democratic legal system. I’ve been saying it all along—I don’t sweat what Trump alone can do, but all those who believe in him. Those folks are really frightening to me.

Richard Pawlowski

Oregon

Re: California Reparations

How our government does the math on these reparations will be tedious and complex. It was much more clear-cut with the Japanese American community on a time-space continuum. Does RL have any transparency on the proposed calculations for these justifiable reparations to the African American community?

Susan Hadeishi

Los Angeles

For context, Ms. Hadeishi is referring to the comments made by SPHS alumnus and Sacramento State University student Jordan Rivers on the work of Sen. Steven Bradford.  To be clear, there is no discussion of giving Black folks cash reparations. Find below, the specific legislation to provide reparations to Black Californians

SB 1007 – Reparations: Homeownership – Creates the Homeowner’s Assistance for Descendants of Enslaved Persons Program to make available grants to descendants of enslaved persons to own a home. This bill is a recommendation from the CA Reparations Task Force’s Final Report.

SB 490 now SB 1403 – Reparations Task Force – This bill would create a new state agency called the California American Freedman Affairs Agency. This agency, a direct recommendation of the Reparations Task Force, would oversee the infrastructure behind administering reparations as determined by the Legislature and Governor. In 2020, California established the first-in-the-nation task force to study reparations for African Americans, with special consideration for the descendants of persons enslaved in the United States. The Task Force’s final report and recommendations are in the hands of the Legislature and the Governor. This legislation will be considered by the Legislature in 2024. This bill is a recommendation from the CA Reparations Task Force’s Final Report.

SB 1013 – Reparations: Property Taxes – Establishes the Property Tax Assistance for Descendants of Enslaved Persons Program. The program would make grants available to persons who currently live in a formerly redlined neighborhood in the state and are descendants of a person enslaved in the United States. This bill is a recommendation from the CA Reparations Task Force’s Final Report.

SB 1050 – Reparations: Restitution for Property Taking – Establishes a process for the State of California to review and investigate public complaints from individuals who claim their property was taken without just compensation as a result of racially motivated eminent domain, and establish a process for providing compensation to the rightful owner. This bill is a recommendation from the CA Reparations Task Force’s Final Report.

SB 1403 – Reparations Task Force – This bill (formerly SB 490) would create a new state agency called the California American Freedman Affairs Agency. This agency, a direct recommendation of the Reparations Task Force, would oversee the infrastructure behind administering reparations as determined by the Legislature and Governor. In 2020, California established the first-in-the-nation task force to study reparations for African Americans, with special consideration for the descendants of persons enslaved in the United States. The Task Force’s final report and recommendations are in the hands of the Legislature and the Governor. This legislation will be considered by the Legislature in 2024. This bill is a recommendation from the CA Reparations Task Force’s Final Report.