Palm Springs has distributed $5.9 million to survivors and descendants of Section 14, a neighborhood where African American and Latino residents were removed in the 1950s and 1960s. The payment is part of a settlement approved by the city council in November and ends a longstanding dispute about the city’s redevelopment of land near downtown.
A statement on the city’s website said, “The comprehensive agreement provides direct financial compensation, housing and business investment programs, and cultural initiatives that honor the legacy of the Section 14 community and represent a continued step toward reconciliation.”
The settlement was finalized on October 7 after Palm Springs received nearly 1,500 signed legal waivers from affected parties. These waivers meant claimants agreed to drop their legal claims against the city regarding Section 14.
The agreement also includes $20 million for affordable housing programs to be developed over the next decade. Priority for these programs will go to families connected to Section 14, according to the city’s statement.
