California Black Media

Sen. Bradford Calls for Special Session on Reparations

Last week, State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to hold a special legislative session on reparations after two bills he authored were not brought up for a floor vote in the California Assembly. One of the bills planned to create a new state agency to manage the distribution of reparations payments for eligible Black Californians. The second bill aimed to restore land or compensation for victims of racially motivated eminent domain.

Published

1 year ago

September 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Sen. Steven Bradford. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

One of the bills planned to create a new state agency to manage the distribution of reparations payments for eligible Black Californians. The second bill aimed to restore land or compensation for victims of racially motivated eminent domain.

“Our ancestors have to be greatly disappointed in the fact that we’ve been waiting 160 years plus years for reparations, and it was right here in our hands, and we dropped the ball,” said Bradford.

As a member of the California reparations task force and the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) vice-chair, Bradford requested that Newsom add reparations to an ongoing special session agenda since lawmakers are in the Capitol for the governor’s special session on gas prices and oil supply.

Reparations advocates also have been stepping up calls to recall legislators who they say blocked the bills. The CLBC proposed a total of 14 reparations bills, many of which passed the Legislature and are waiting for a final signature from Gov. Newsom.

Newsom stated that his office worked closely with the Black Caucus on the reparations bills that have advanced so far.

“The vast majority of those that we agreed to and worked collaboratively together with the Black Caucus have ended up on my desk,” said Newsom.

Despite the defeat of two reparations bills, the caucus has worked closely with community-based organizations to address issues affecting Black residents statewide.

This past weekend, the Black Caucus convened with community leaders in Sacramento to hear ideas from policymakers, residents, and grassroots advocates on current and emerging issues in the Black community.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 18 – 24, 2026

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February 20, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 – 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

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2 weeks ago

February 16, 2026

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Bo Tefu

Trump’s White House Pushes to Control California Wildfire Recovery

The executive order signed Jan. 27 by President Donald Trump directs federal agencies to explore regulations that could override California and municipal permitting rules for homes and other structures destroyed in the fires. Land-use and rebuilding permits have traditionally been handled by cities and counties, making the move an unprecedented federal intervention into disaster recovery.

Published

3 weeks ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The White House is moving to take control of wildfire recovery efforts in the Los Angeles County area, issuing an executive order that would shift rebuilding permit authority from state and local governments to the federal government following the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires.

“I want to see if we can take over the city and state and just give the people their permits they want to build,” Trump told the media when signing the order.

The Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed about 16,000 homes, businesses, and other structures across Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and surrounding areas. According to local data, roughly 4,700 applications to rebuild have been submitted, with about 2,000 approved so far. Officials say the pace of rebuilding is consistent with recovery timelines from other major wildfires in California, where reconstruction often takes several years.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass quickly condemned the order, stating that it is unnecessary and legally questionable. Disaster recovery experts echoed those concerns, pointing to constitutional limits on federal authority over land-use decisions.

Trump’s order calls on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration to consider allowing builders to self-certify compliance with health and safety regulations to receive federal approval.

The dispute has become another flashpoint in the ongoing political battle between Trump and Newsom. The governor has requested $33 billion in federal disaster aid that has not yet been approved, while survivors continue to face challenges related to insurance payouts, high rebuilding costs, and legal disputes tied to the cause of the fires.

“Instead of finally sending to Congress the federal relief Los Angeles needs to rebuild from last year’s firestorms, Donald Trump continues to live in fantasy land,” Newsom wrote on X.

Bass said the White House could speed recovery by approving disaster aid and pushing insurers and lenders to support affected residents.

Trump’s order calls for draft regulations within 30 days and final rules within 90 days.