US Governor Newsom Vetoes Bill Aimed at Helping Black Families Reclaim Land

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have helped Black families reclaim or be compensated for property that was unjustly taken by the government. The bill would have created a process for families to file a claim with the state if they believe the government seized their property through eminent domain due to discriminatory motives and without providing fair compensation.

The proposal by itself would not have been able to take full effect because lawmakers blocked another bill to create a reparations agency that would have reviewed claims. "I thank the author for his commitment to redressing past racial injustices," Newsom said in a statement. "However, this bill tasks a nonexistent state agency to carry out its various provisions and requirements, making it impossible to implement." The veto dealt a blow to a key part of a package of reparations bills the California Legislative Black Caucus backed this year in an effort to help the state atone for decades of policies that drove racial disparities for Black Americans.

The caucus sent other proposals to Newsom’s desk that would require the state to formally apologize for slavery and its lingering impacts, improve protections against hair discrimination for athletes and combat the banning of books in state prisons. Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford introduced the eminent domain bill after Los Angeles-area officials in.