Pilot reparations program in Illinois, Evanston's Housing Reparations Program, and reparations best practices
Hi, I’ll be live-tweeting this afternoon’s @CookCountyBoard Commission on Social Innovation meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters
03:11 PM May 5, 2022 CDT
We’ll hear from Daniel Biss, the Mayor of Evanston, the 1st US city to have enacted reparations legislation and Robin Rue Simmons, the Executive Director of FirstRepair, who will offer their actionable policy recommendations about how Cook County might approach reparations.
Marc Lane introduces Daniel Biss and Robin Rue Simmons by discussing their backgrounds and experience https://t.co/p3mOL5fQMJ
Robin Rue Simmons presents first, providing some background regarding reparations and Evanston’s initiatives https://t.co/QnfK00XHkd
Simmons discusses Evanston’s reparations timeline, highlighting community engagement and stakeholder empowerment https://t.co/8xK8OBv525
Dan Biss discusses the importance of historians in reparations initiatives and the need for cities to take responsibility for their part in exacerbating health, life expectancy, and wealth disparities. https://t.co/fD1sHaWJme
Biss wants other municipalities to help create frameworks and best practices for reparations.
Biss says that by distributing smaller amounts of funds early, Evanston can try different things in order to learn and determine best practices.
Lane mentions how emailing too many commissioners triggers the Open Meetings Act.
Sol Anderson talks about his experience discussing reparations with philanthropists and highlights Simmons’s influence and experience. https://t.co/XkqGUIUvwO
Simmons is asked how they handled public outreach. She says in informal community meetings they asked folks:
- what forms of reparations would you like to see
- how reparations could be funded
- who should qualify for reparations
engaged in churches, barber and beauty shops https://t.co/0ZlFgfM8HB
Simmons says that reparations should come with financial guidance in how recipients can best take advantage and acknowledges Evanston can do much more in providing wraparound services.
Simmons discussed ideas for generating revenue for reparations
- cannabis tax
- real estate tax for highly valued properties
Anderson chimed in and talked about opportunities for philanthropists
It seems Dan Biss had to leave the meeting, so Simmons is answering all questions.
Howard Males asked about potential challenges and pushback regarding reparations.
Simmons says there can be legal challenges saying issuing reparations is fiscally irresponsible and claims of reverse racism. She says challenges have come to them from outside the state as well.
Simmons recommends working with the National African American Reparations Commission in learning about reparations best practices (https://reparationscomm.org/).
Simmons is asked for her opinion regarding California’s recent decisions regarding eligibility for reparations (see here: https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2022/03/california-reparations-task-force-eligibility/).
Simmons disagreed with CA’s conditions for reparations qualifications.
Moving on to the other business of the meeting, committee reports are next.
There is no longer a quorum in this meeting (and Commissioner Anaya has to leave), so previous meeting minutes will be approved in the next meeting.
Christyn Freemon talks about the Urban Real Estate conference and highlights their need for additional resources regarding program design and implementation, community input, and connections to and support from local government. https://t.co/s889Jw4iij
Lane invites the commissioners to share their ideas regarding experts they’d like to invite and topics that can be discussed during their future meetings.
This concludes my coverage for @CHIdocumenters. #CHIDocumenters
Please see https://cookcountyil.gov for more information. Reply to this thread or DM me with any questions.