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San Francisco Mayor Signs Reparations Fund Into Law Without City Funding

City leaders cite a projected $1 billion deficit, with the Human Rights Commission tasked to oversee any future contributions.

Overview

  • Mayor Daniel Lurie approved the ordinance on December 23 after unanimous Board passage on December 9, and it takes effect 30 days after enactment.
  • The measure establishes a legal framework for a Reparations Fund intended to carry out the 2023 AARAC plan, which included a potential $5 million lump-sum payment per eligible person and other remedies.
  • The city has not committed any dollars to the fund, and Lurie says the deficit precludes allocations while allowing for private donations; any taxpayer funding would require separate legislation.
  • The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is designated to administer the fund and restrict spending to actions outlined in the Reparations Plan.
  • Criticism centers on feasibility and legality, with high cost estimates and expected equal-protection challenges, and local NAACP leader Amos C. Brown warning the plan creates false hope and calling the $5 million figure arbitrary.