Alameda County Reparations Commission Extended 2 Years With Slashed Budget

Sep 27, 2024 Story by: Editor

The Alameda County Reparations Commission , previously facing delays, is now equipped to tackle racial inequities and injustices more proactively. Originally tasked with reviewing anti-Black policies in the county and creating a remedial action plan by July 2024, the commission's mandate has been extended by two years, along with a budget grant. The commission will receive $92,340.10 over the next two years, a fraction of the $5 million initially requested.

This funding covers a $50-per-meeting stipend for the commissioners, expenses for the commission’s clerk, room rentals, and printing costs. “Just enough for us to meet and keep the door open,” remarked Debra Gore-Mann, the commission chair, during a Thursday meeting.

The commission sought the $5 million to conduct community surveys exploring residents' experiences of discrimination and to develop meaningful reparative measures. Additionally, this funding would support researchers in collecting records on discriminatory policies and their effects.

During a Board of Supervisors meeting on September 17, Shadrick Small, a researcher from UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute and a commission member, urged the board to fulfill their funding request. “We’re not a research body. We’re a deliberative body,” he stated during public comments. “We’re meant to aggregate all the data and public thought to create good solutions, but we need resources to do that.”

Board President Nate Miley , along with Supervisor Elisa Márquez , previously cautioned that the county's financial resources are limited. This past summer, the county addressed a $68 million deficit in its $4.6 billion budget by reducing expenditures and tapping into reserves.

Erika Weissinger , a UC Berkeley professor and member of the Berkeley Unified School District Reparations Task Force, noted that similar to Alameda County’s situation, her task force also lacked research funding. She emphasized that expecting the predominantly Black commission to replicate the volunteer efforts of white members from her task force presents significant challenges. “When you have Black unpaid labor trying to figure out how to remedy Black unpaid labor, we have a problem,” Weissinger expressed in an interview with KQED.

During the Thursday meeting, Weissinger and Dr. Ashley Adams, co-directors of the Black Reparations Project, encouraged the commission to seek technical assistance from local graduate students and advocacy groups, adjusting their strategies to cope with the absence of research funding.

In contrast, the California Reparations Task Force was allocated $4.7 million over two years, allowing it to hold community listening sessions, employ economists and researchers, and produce a comprehensive report that detailed anti-Black policies throughout California's history. This report culminated in over 100 policy recommendations, some of which have been enacted into law.

In comparison, the Berkeley Unified School District's task force produced three policy recommendations based on expert presentations and community surveys, one of which suggested hiring a consultant to review policies impacting Black students.

Gore-Mann , who is also the president and CEO of The Greenlining Institute , is seeking private donations to supplement the county funding. The commission is currently sponsored by the county library system, which enables it to accept philanthropic contributions, though it does not provide direct funding.

Gore-Mann mentioned previous attempts to collaborate with students from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy were hindered by county regulations. She inquired whether advocating for their cause with individual supervisors might yield support. “I don’t think there is a lack of commitment,” Miley replied. “We just have a lot coming at us.”

County officials indicated that additional funding may be approved in the future and requested that the commission submit a more detailed budget proposal.

While frustration over the budget allocation was evident during the meeting, Commissioner Larry McClendon encouraged a positive outlook, suggesting the group could raise awareness about the reparations process by engaging their personal and professional networks. “We are in a really good position to hit the ground running if we can get some assistance,” McClendon said. “Maybe ‘cause I’m a Raiders fan, I know how to deal with losses and remain positive.” Source: KQED