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Affected Families “Disappointed” by Gov. Newsom’s Veto of Asm. McKinnor’s Eminent Domain Bill

October 30, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 62, legislation that would have created a pathway for Black families to seek compensation for property seized through racially motivated eminent domain in California. The bill, part of the California Legislative Black Caucus's reparations package, had passed both legislative chambers with strong support before reaching the governor's desk in September. Newsom justified his veto by claiming the state's Civil Rights Department lacks sufficient resources and expertise to handle property dispute adjudication.

Who is affected

  • Elmer Fonza and his brother Medford Fonza (descendants of enslaved person Nelson Bell who lost family land in Coloma)
  • Dawn Basciano and her family (descendants of Pearly Monroe and formerly enslaved Peter and Nancy Gooch who lost orchard land in Coloma)
  • The White family (descendants of Silas White whose Santa Monica property was seized in 1958)
  • Black families across California whose property was taken through racially motivated eminent domain
  • Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, particularly Assemblymember Tina McKinnor
  • The California Civil Rights Department
  • The California Reparations Task Force members

What action is being taken

  • The White family is pursuing compensation through legal and community channels, including working with the organization Where Is My Land
  • The Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery is being established following the passage of Senate Bill 518

Why it matters

  • This veto perpetuates historical injustices by denying Black families a formal mechanism to seek restitution for property illegally seized through racially motivated eminent domain. These land seizures represent a direct form of wealth extraction from Black communities that contributed to ongoing economic disparities, as families lost valuable property and generational wealth. The decision is particularly significant because it rejects legislative action that had bipartisan support and was specifically designed to address harms documented by the California Reparations Task Force. Advocates view the veto as prioritizing administrative concerns over restorative justice, offering symbolic gestures like study bureaus rather than concrete remedies for documented wrongs.

What's next

  • The recently established Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery (created by SB 518) will begin operating to address harms of slavery and systemic discrimination, though specific implementation details are not provided in the article.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint