Evanston Reparations Committee

The Evanston Reparations Committee was established by the City Council of Evanston, Illinois in 2019 as the first publicly funded reparation program for Black Americans. The first program approved for using the funds, cash payments for housing support, was passed by the city in March 2021.

Passage

On November 25, 2019, the City Council voted 8–1 to commit the first ten million dollars over the next ten years of the city's Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax (3% on gross sales of cannabis) to fund a local reparations program with the intention to focus on housing and the wealth gap for Black residents suffered from redlining in Evanston.

The first program to spend money out of fund was approved, with another 8–1 vote, on March 22, 2021, was the "Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program" targeted for for housing and economic development programs for Black Evanston residents and build the wealth of Black residents.[1] It was the first such government funded program in America.[2] Qualifying homes were granted up to $25,000 for down payments or home repairs. To qualify for the program, Black Americans must either have lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969 or be a direct descendant of someone who did.[3][4][5]

The program had the endorsement of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America and the National African American Reparations Commission.[1]

Robin Rue Simmons, an alderwoman was the architect of the reparations program. The other members of the Reparations Committee were 5th Ward Councilmember Bobby Burns, 2nd Ward Councilmember Krissie Harris, 8th Ward Councilmember Devon Reid and residents Bonnie Lockhart, Claire McFarland Barber, and Carlis Sutton.[6]

Impact

As of early 2023, Evanston had only distributed $400,000 of the proposed $10 million in spending. A total of 16 applicants have received money while about 620 of Black residents on the waiting list or have otherwise applied.[7][8] In additional to the original $10 million from the marijuana tax, an additional $10 million over the time period from a real estate transfer tax on large scales.[8] The city has since expanded the potential disbursement options to include cash as well as vouchers.[8]

The program has provided support for some local residents but has also be used an example of an ineffective reparations arguing that local-only funding lacks sufficient resources remove the gap between white and Black wealth. Advocates for this and similar programs say they can serve as additional local and national programs so are valuable.[9]

See also

References
  1. "In Likely First, Chicago Suburb Of Evanston Approves Reparations For Black Residents". Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  2. "The impact of the nation's first cash reparations program for Black residents". PBS NewsHour. 2023-06-22. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  3. Barrett, Joe (2023-07-10). "Chicago Suburb Pays Reparations to Black Residents in a 'Test Run for the Whole Country'". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  4. "Evanston reparations: 16 recipients selected to receive $25,000 for housing". ABC7 Chicago. 2022-01-14. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  5. "Inside This City's Historic Move to Provide Reparations". Teen Vogue. 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  6. "Evanston Local Reparations | City of Evanston". www.cityofevanston.org. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  7. Felton, Emmanuel (2023-01-17). "A Chicago suburb promised Black residents reparations. Few have been paid". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  8. "How reparations pioneer Evanston, Ill., is rolling out payments to Black citizens". Yahoo News. 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  9. "The Case Against Local Reparations". Bloomberg.com. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
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