SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California plans to spend up to $12 million on reparations legislation under a budget signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, marking a milestone in the state’s efforts to atone for a legacy of racism and discrimination against Black Californians.

The reparations funding in the $297.9 billion budget Newsom signed over the weekend does not specify what programs the money would go toward. Lawmakers are not considering widespread direct payments to Black Californians this year.

The state Legislature is weighing proposals to issue a formal apology for California’s role in perpetuating discrimination against Black residents, to create an agency to administer reparations programs, and to identify families whose property was unjustly seized through eminent domain.

The funding comes after federal reparations efforts have stalled for decades.

“We often say the budget is a reflection of our values and our priorities, so the fact that there’s any money for reparations should be a reason for celebrating,” said state Sen. Steven Bradford, a Los Angeles-area Democrat, noting he hoped the allocation would have been larger.

No state has gotten further along in its consideration of reparations proposals for Black residents than California, but some have made significant strides. Illinois and New York passed laws in recent years to study reparations proposals for African Americans. Florida passed a law in the 1990s creating a college scholarship fund for descendants of Black residents who were killed in a 1923 massacre initiated by a white mob.

But some opponents of reparations proposals being considered by lawmakers in California say taxpayers should not have to have to pay to address policies and practices from a long time ago.

“Slavery was a stain on our nation’s history, but I don’t believe it’s fair to try to right the wrongs on the past at the expense of the people today who did nothing wrong,” Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said in a statement. “More than a quarter of Californians are immigrants — how can we look at those people, who are struggling as it is, and say it’s on them to make up for something that happened more than 150 years ago?”

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, a Democrat, said at an event Monday that “the $12 billion is not nearly enough” but that lawmakers worked closely to secure the money during a tough budget year.

Bradford introduced proposals to give property tax and housing assistance to descendants of enslaved Black people, but those were blocked in May by a key committee.

Kamilah Moore, who chaired the state reparations task force, was disappointed that lawmakers also did not introduce legislation this year to provide free tuition at public colleges for descendants of enslaved Black people, which the group recommended in its final report.

But Moore said it was still “good news” to see $12 million for reparations included in the budget as a starting point.

“It means that they’re taking accountability and responsibility, and they’re acknowledging the harms and the atrocities to this particular population,” she said. “That’s a huge step that should not be overlooked.”

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Associated Press writer Trân Nguyễn contributed to this report.

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Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X: @sophieadanna

Happy summer! Want to get out and have some fun, but don’t want to spend any money? Here are things you can do that won’t cost you anything at all. And here’s where you can see free fireworks for the holiday! 

Movies In the Park, Riverside (Fridays, July 12, 19, 26): Bring a chair and blanket to hang out on the lawn. Movies begin at dusk. July 12: “Wonka” at Reid Park, 701 N. Orange St.; July 19: “Kung Fu Panda 4” at Bryant Park, 7950 Philbin Ave.; July 26: “Trolls Band Together” at Lincoln Park, 4261 Park Ave.

Long Beach Municipal Band concerts (July 2-31): “Music to My Ears” theme. 6:30 p.m. start time. July 2 at Whaley Park, 5620 E. Atherton St.; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave.), July 9, 16, 23, 30 at Bixby Annex Park (aka Bixby Bluff Park) on Ocean Boulevard; July 11, 18 at Recreation Park, 4900 E. 7th St.) and July 5, 12, 19, 26 at  El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Road). longbeach.gov

Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), Long Beach (July 7, 14, 21, 28 ): The museum is free every Sunday and always has interesting exhibits. Free docent-led tours are offered at 2 p.m. Sundays. Free advance tickets are recommended and can be booked online. Parking is free. 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. molaa.org/visit

Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles (July 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31):  The Autry is free every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. but reservations are required and limited.. Parking is free, too. Learn about Native American and cowboy ways of life, using historical artifacts such as stagecoaches, serapes, beaded clothing, firearms, photos and more. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org/free

Norton Simon Free First Fridays. Pasadena (July 5): If you’ve never been to this marvelous art museum, you should go. It’s free monthly on the first Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. There’s a lot to see so I’d get there early. It showcases the immense collection of the late billionaire Norton Simon, including masterpieces of painting and sculpture by artists such as Picasso, Renoir, Raphael, Van Gogh and more. Free parking. 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena nortonsimon.org

Chevy show at Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum, El Segundo (July 27):

“Tri-Five Chevy Show” celebrates Chevy passenger cars from the years 1955, 1956, and 1957. Live music, food trucks and more. 10 am to 2 pm. Free admission, $15 to register a car. This museum features original and custom cars from the 1930s to the 1950s. Coffee, pastries, food truck and raffle. Open to all. 610 Lairport St., El Segundo. https://automobiledrivingmuseum.org/event/tri-five2024

Second Saturday ArtWalk, Pomona (July 13): This monthly event in the Pomona Arts Colony brings crowds to the streets as art studios, galleries, shops and more stay open late. 6-10 p.m. 119 W. 2nd St, Pomona. downtownpomona.org/events

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles (July 9): The museum is free to all on the second Tuesday of the month, but also free for L.A. County residents every day after 3 p.m. The largest art museum complex on the West Coast, this collection includes everything from David Hockney paintings to ancient artifacts to free arts workshops. (Note that part of the museum is currently under construction.) Children 17 and under who live in L.A. County can sign up for the NexGen program, where they can get in free any day and bring one person with them. Bank of America cardholders get in free the first full weekend of every month (Only the cardholder). Paid parking is nearby, beware of street parking in the afternoon — you could be towed. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles lacma.org/tickets

OC Parks Sunset Cinema (July 12, 19, 26 ): Activities begin at 6 p.m. movies start at sunset. Bring your chair and blanket. July 12: “Trolls Band Together” at Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Ave., Irvine; July 19 Barbie at Yorba Regional Park, 7600 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim; July 26: “National Treasure” at Yorba Regional Park. ocparks.com

Concerts in Orange County Parks  (July 11, 18. 25). Live music under the stars on Thursday evenings. All ages. Bring a blanket and chair. Food trucks available. Sponsored by OC Parks. July 11: Flashback Heart Atttack at Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Ave., Irvine; July 18: A Thousand Horses at Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange; July 25 No Duh: The Ultimate Tribute to No Doubt & Gwen Stefani at Irvine Regional Park. ocparks.com

Nature’s Open Door at Whittier Narrows Natural Area and Nature Center. (July 22) Open house featuring numerous organizations. Bird walk at 8 a.m. Other programs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.1000 S. Durfee Ave., South El Monte parks.lacounty.gov/whittier-narrows-natural-area-and-nature-center/

Mountain Grove summer concert series, Redlands. (July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31) Concerts at the Mountain Grove shopping center, 7 p.m. On the food court lawn. Bring a lawn chair. July 3: Woody Garcia; July 10: Rolling Stone tribute band; July 17: Tom Petty tribute band; July 24: Twisted Gypsy Fleetwood Mac cover; July 31: Michael Jackson tribute. 27511 San Bernardino Ave., Redlands, mtgrove.com/events/

SACRAMENTO – With just hours to spare, Democratic legislators announced Sunday night an agreement on a Proposition 47 reform initiative they plan to put on a ballot.

It will compete with a tougher version already submitted by California district attorneys. Critics are already calling it confusing.

Eleventh-hour negotiations and now a done deal by Democrats on their own Prop 47 reform initiative.

That will be an alternate option to a separate Prop 47 reform initiative already qualified for the ballot aimed at curbing California retail crime.

“Look when you have two ballot initiatives that deal with the same exact thing, it is very confusing for the general public,” Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover said.

Hoover is opposed to the Democrats’ tactics. The new language introduced by Democrats also says that if the new Prop 47 reform initiative receives more affirmative votes than the measure in conflict with it, the provisions of the other measure or measures shall be null and void.

“The frustrating thing is it doesn’t have to be this way, we can leave the ballot initiative that is currently qualified alone, and just let the voters vote on it as is,” Hoover said.

The last-minute deadline agreement comes after Democratic leaders failed an earlier effort to pass a group of bills with so-called poison pill amendments that could have killed the very laws they were seeking to pass.

Leaked emails CBS13 first reported show the governor’s involvement in seeking to keep the DA initiative on the November ballot.

Now with this new political twist.

“Was having dinner with my family on a Sunday night and this bomb gets dropped on us,” Hoover said.

Califronia’s retail crime fight could have you seeing double on Election Day.

Democrats say their bill is less expensive. In the past, they’ve said they believe the DA Prop 47 reform initiative will lead to mass incarceration.

This alternative version must be in print three days before the legislature can vote on putting it on the state ballot, on July 3rd.
That’s the last day before lawmakers go on summer break.