Bradford’s statement follows the California Reparations Task Force’s weekend recommendation that the state compensate each qualified black person with up to $1.2 million in reparations.
The state politician who participated in the task force said obtaining financial reimbursements for past discrimination against black citizens “is not happening,” but added that black residents can do so “if the money is there”.
On Saturday, the reparations panel met in public in Oakland, Calif., to decide on the final set of recommendations that would be presented to state lawmakers.
The nine-member group also advised the state to apologize to black citizens in addition to money.
“Reparations are not only morally justified, but have the ability to address racial imbalances and long-standing injustices,” said U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, D-California, who was in attendance at the conference.
However, Bradford warned potential recipients not to anticipate huge payouts given that the California government has yet to determine where the money will come from.
According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles state representative said “everything is conceivable if the money is there,” but added that he would remain “realistic” about what the actual payouts might be.
I don’t want to raise people’s expectations and hope that they’re going to get, you know, seven-figure checks, he said, urging them to maintain the same perspective. It just won’t happen.
Others found Bradford’s remarks offensive. Marcus Champion, a Los Angeles citizen and reparations activist, said, “That’s not how you come to the table to pay a past obligation. In any form of negotiation you should not approach the table in this manner. you can, then build from there.
Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a Democratic Assemblyman from Los Angeles, reiterated Bradford’s warning and said, “We have absolutely no idea at this time what will or will not be passed” by the legislature.
Unlike California’s annual state budget, which is around $300 billion, earlier estimates suggested repairs could ultimately cost as much as $800 billion.