‘This thing doesn’t happen overnight’: San Diegans push for reparations for Black Californians

In January, Black lawmakers in Sacramento released the nation’s first statewide reparations package, a slew of bills intended to compensate the descendants of enslaved Black people.

Though nascent, the policies — each now progressing through the Legislature at different stages — heralds California’s multi-year plan to make amends for its past wrongs.

If all passed, their impact would be far-reaching. One bill would create new grants to increase Black enrollment in STEM programs. Another would address racial disparities in homeownership. A third requests a formal apology from the governor for the state’s past “human rights violations and crimes.”

Notably missing are any bills promising direct cash payments to Black Californians, a move that many state legislators and residents have called essential.

But as California draws headlines as the first state to tackle reparations, local governments in San Diego are following suit.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors expects to vote soon on whether to endorse the state’s reparations package. And last week, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to back it.

There was no shortage of public support, either, with the meeting drawing impassioned elected leaders and residents alike — including the former San Diego lawmaker who initiated the statewide effort<...