Mayor Brandon Johnson has allocated $500,000 in the Chicago city 2024 budget toward the study of reparations. The November 9th announcement comes three years after past pushes for the city to approach reparations was opposed.
Mayor Johnson looked to reassure residents of his administration’s commitment to tackling the reparations issue. “When residents who have experienced neglect and disinvestment for generations speak out of their pain and their trauma, this administration and the Black Caucus we hear you,” said Johnson.
The revenue stream to support reparations costs for residents aims to be modeled after a similar plan in Evanston, Illinois. Evanston became the first city to approve reparations to Black residents issuing $25,000 in cash payments. The city set aside $10 million in cannabis sales revenue to support the reparations initiative.
According to 16th Ward Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman, the chair of the Chicago City Council’s Black Caucus, the panel will meet for up to a year before becoming a full commision. Coleman says that a similar cannabis revenue plan to Evanston’s may be the path forward for Chicago.
The city budget was approved on November 15th making the steps toward reparations closer to reality. According to Coleman, “This is just a start of what’s necessary to help Black people.”