Los Angeles Wants to Transfer Public Land to Marginalized Groups

The Los Angeles City Council recently approved a plan to identify available land for potential transfer to historically marginalized groups in the city in what could potentially become one of the largest examples of reparations in the country, following a few examples from other communities around the country, including neighboring Santa Monica and Los Angeles County.

By approving the motion, the city council directs several city departments to prepare a property inventory of all ‘underutilized, surplus, and/or remnant lands’ within the city, as well as public lands held by county, regional, state and federal agencies that could be potentially transferred.  The motion also directs the city's chief legislative analyst to work with the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department to provide recommendations about the use of the land, once identified. Potential ideas for the transfer include community land trusts, urban agriculture, or ‘other uses that center principles of self-determination, community building and healing.’

The motion was originally written by former Councilmember Mike Bonin, and was carried through the current council by councilmembers Nithya Raman and Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

More details about the motion and the plan are available in an article by the City News Service that was picked up widely around the region last week, including by Eastside LA.