San Diego County Board backs California Legislative Black Caucus 2024 reparations package

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a resolution supporting the California Legislative Black Caucus's 2024 reparations legislative package, after a presentation from Supervisor Monica Montgomery Stepp and extensive public comment from descendants and task force members.

Supervisor Monica Montgomery Stepp brought the measure and summarized her experience on the California Reparations Task Force established by Assembly Bill 3121, which studied harms stemming from chattel slavery and recommended restorative policies spanning education, criminal justice, health and business. Camilla Moore, chair of the task force, and San Diego City Councilmember Henry Foster spoke in favor, as did multiple residents and community organizations at the public-comment period.

The resolution affirms the county's support for the CLBC package and for noncash reparative measures prioritized by the task force; Montgomery Stepp said the package is intended to align county action with the task force's research-based recommendations. Public comment included multiple speakers calling for the county to act and several speakers urging caution about costs and details.

Board members debated the package's scope and constituent concerns. Supervisor Anderson expressed concerns about specific bills the caucus supports; the motion was moved by Supervisor Monica Montgomery Stepp and seconded by Supervisor Tara Lawson Reimer. The board approved the resolution; the vote recorded one no vote (Supervisor Anderson) and the remainder voting yes.

The resolution is a policy statement of support rather than an appropriation; Montgomery Stepp said the action would signal local alignment with the state-level legislative effort and encourage counties and cities to support specific bill language as it moves through the Legislature.