Santa Clara County committee forwards Human Rights Commission reparations recommendation to full Board

The Children, Seniors and Families Committee voted Jan. 22 to receive a reparations recommendation prepared by the Human Rights Commission and forward the item to the full Board of Supervisors.

Julinda, chair of the Human Rights Commission's Reparations Ad Hoc Committee, presented the resolution and asked the committee to "support the reparations resolution developed by the Human Rights Commissioner's Reparations Ad Hoc Committee," saying the proposal "represents a critical step in addressing systemic inequalities and historical harms" affecting Black residents in Santa Clara County.

Community members told the committee they want action now. Anne Harris, who said she is a descendant of enslaved people and will be 89 this year, said, "We need to make reparation happen now," and asked that a process be accelerated so elders see outcomes in their lifetimes. Other speakers from community groups said research and outreach show broad support and asked the county to create a task force to continue research and build an implementation pathway.

Vice Chairperson Young said she supported advancing the conversation "because we cannot build equity without acknowledging history and addressing today's disparities," and moved to receive the Human Rights Commission report and forward it to the Board. Chairperson Arenas seconded the motion; the clerk recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed.

What the committee voted to forward is the Commission's recommendation package (a copy was submitted to the committee) and not a finalized county policy. Supervisors and presenters repeatedly framed this as the start of a Board-level conversation that would likely include additional analysis, community engagement, and coordination with state actions cited by the Commission, including several recently introduced bills the presenters mentioned as context.

Next steps: the item will go to the Board of Supervisors for full consideration. Committee members said they expect the Board-level discussion to include further public outreach and policy design work.