A significant vote is looming in Palm Springs, where city officials are set to approve a nearly $6 million reparations deal for Black and Latino families whose neighborhood was destroyed in the 1960s.

This neighborhood, Section 14, was once home to over 230 families before it was razed to make way for commercial development, displacing residents without much warning or compensation.

The Loss of Section 14

In the mid-1960s, city officials tore down Section 14, a one-mile stretch of land that was owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

This area had been a rare haven for African American and Latino families at a time when discriminatory housing practices left few options for minorities.

Between 1965 and 1967, the city’s fire department demolished and burned more than 230 homes, many of which were rented or owned by Black and Latino residents.

The displacement came shortly after a change in federal law that allowed the tribe to lease the land for up to 99 years, further compounding the loss for these communities.

The Fight for Justice

Now, decades later, the surviving residents and their descendants are closer to receiving restitution.

The Palm Springs City Council is expected to vote on a $5.9 million settlement, a deal that many survivors see as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the harm done to their families.

Alongside the settlement, a broader package is also on the table, which includes $21 million aimed at housing, economic development, and small business support.

The proposed package will prioritize those affected by the 1960s displacement, with additional funds allocated to affordable homeownership programs, a community land trust for low-income residents, and grants for small businesses.

A portion of the settlement will also go toward creating a Section 14 monument and a racial healing center, marking the city’s effort to preserve the memory of the community and its painful past.

The Path to Resolution

The settlement comes after years of advocacy from survivors like 86-year-old Margarita Genera, who lived in Section 14 as a child.

Genera and other former residents have long contested the manner in which they were forced out, and a 1968 state investigation revealed that the city had shown “civil disregard” for the rights of its minority residents, though no crimes were formally charged.

It wasn’t until 2021 that the city officially acknowledged the wrongdoings and issued an apology.

The survivors’ group, led by Pearl Devers, filed a tort claim the following year, asserting that the evictions were unlawful and racially motivated.

Civil rights attorney Areva Martin, who represents the group, compared the forced displacement to the tragic destruction of Black Wall Street in 1921.

While no deaths were linked to the evictions in Palm Springs, the violence and discrimination faced by Section 14 residents were undeniable.

A Long-Awaited Victory

The $5.9 million settlement will be divided among verified former residents and their descendants, a number that is expected to be smaller than the original 300 people in the group.

While the survivors acknowledge that no amount of money can truly restore what was lost, the deal represents a significant step toward healing.

Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, stating that it was a fair and just resolution that would bring lasting benefits to the entire Palm Springs community.

With this settlement, the city takes a bold step in confronting its historical wrongs and paving the way for a more inclusive future.

The next chapter for Palm Springs and its residents begins now, as they continue to heal from the scars of the past.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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