Rules Committee recommends 15-member African American Reparations Advisory Committee after hours of testimony

The Rules Committee on April 26 moved and unanimously approved a recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors naming 15 appointees to a newly created African American Reparations Advisory Committee. The advisory body, established by recently passed legislation, will be housed under the Human Rights Commission and charged with researching and proposing a reparations plan for San Francisco.

President Walton, author of the enabling legislation, framed the committee as an historic, deliberate effort to "research, develop, and present a true reparations plan" aimed at wealth accumulation, generational opportunity and community ownership for Black San Franciscans. Human Rights Commission Director Cheryl Davis thanked community participants and urged collaborative work.

Over the course of the hearing the Rules Committee heard two-minute statements from 51 applicants and multiple public commenters. Applicants and speakers emphasized a range of priorities for reparations'including housing stability, pathways to homeownership, business and workforce development, mental-health and public-health resources, criminal-justice remedies and educational opportunities'and cited lived experience with displacement, incarceration, homelessness and workplace discrimination.

President Walton offered a recommended slate; Chair Peskin moved that slate as a committee report to the full Board. The committee approved the recommendation by roll call (Mandelmann Aye; Chan Aye; Peskin Aye). The recommended appointees and seat assignments will be forwarded to the full Board for final action.

Action and next steps: The Rules Committee forwarded a recommended 15-person slate and any requested residency waivers to the full Board of Supervisors for final appointment; the committee emphasized the advisory group's work plan and seat-specific qualifications would govern subsequent work under the Human Rights Commission.