The Palm Springs City Council has unanimously approved a $5.9 million settlement to compensate Black and Latino families who were forcibly displaced from the Section 14 neighborhood during the 1960s. The move is part of an effort to acknowledge and rectify the city’s role in uprooting a thriving community.
Alongside the financial settlement, the council has committed $10 million to a first-time homebuyer assistance program and an additional $10 million to establish a community land trust. A monument is also planned to honor the legacy of Section 14 and its residents. Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein described these measures as bold steps toward creating lasting benefits for the city while prioritizing justice for the displaced families and their descendants.
The History of Section 14
Section 14, a one-square-mile area on a Native American reservation, was home to many Black and Mexican American families until the 1960s when homes were burned or demolished without sufficient warning or compensation. Residents recall devastating losses, including their homes, community ties, and opportunities for generational wealth.
The city’s actions have been compared to other historical injustices, such as the destruction of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street in 1921. Although no deaths were reported in the Section 14 displacement, the trauma and economic impact were profound and long-lasting.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
In 2021, the city council issued a formal apology for its role in the events that led to the displacement. Families, however, continued to push for restitution. A tort claim filed in 2022 originally sought $2.3 billion in damages. Attorney Areva Martin, representing over 300 former residents and their descendants, emphasized that the $5.9 million settlement is an important step toward addressing the harm caused, though it is still unclear how much each affected family or individual will receive.
The settlement is accompanied by other reparative measures, including the homebuyer assistance program aimed at helping low-income Palm Springs residents, with priority given to those directly impacted by the Section 14 displacement. The community land trust is designed to create affordable housing and foster long-term stability, ensuring that displaced families have an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
A Legacy Remembered
The city plans to commemorate Section 14 with a permanent monument that will honor its history and the resilience of its residents. Officials believe this initiative will help the community heal and provide a lasting reminder of the neighborhood’s significance.
Palm Springs’ efforts to address this injustice reflect a broader national conversation about acknowledging and repairing historical harms. City leaders hope the measures will serve as a model for other municipalities grappling with similar legacies.
