Our Palm Springs Section 14 proposal would have helped those involved begin to heal
I am the co-founder of the African American Redress Network (AARN). Our organization was slated to be the consultants for the City of Palm Springs RFP 12-23 Reparations Program Services.
The rejection of the RFP was a sad outcome for the city.
The proposal was a genius document. It recognized that by using the channels of open democracy, the city could embark on a process that might lead to racial healing for those connected to Section 14.
Our research would have been conducted with the same democratic principles. Extensive archival, genealogical, and oral history research would have been openly discussed and verified alongside City officials and the community to advance everyone’s understanding of the historical context.
The RFP reparations component was not a practice to be feared. Reparations are often confused with cash payments only. Compensation can be one piece, however, reparations are much more than money and often include various non-monetary repair initiatives
The City’s willingness to embark on a reparative process said volumes about its respect and defense of human rights and their commitment to open democratic practices. To create a new RFP void of stakeholder engagement, diminishes the ability to develop a community-wide understanding and a shared space for racial repair.
Linda J. Mann, New York City
Americans are losing faith in our Supreme Court – it’s easy to see why
The nine justices on the Supreme Court are the only federal judges not bound by a code of ethics. It’s up to the justices to self-police on ethical issues, and they want to keep it that way.That’s why nothing happened when Clarence Thomas didn’t recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases that could have directly implicated his wife. That’s why nothing happened when America found out Samuel Alito more than likely leaked a decision about reproductive health care to anti-abortion activists. And that’s why nothing happened when it was revealed that Chief Justice Roberts’ wife has earned millions of dollars recruiting for law firms with business before the Supreme Court.It doesn’t have to be this way. Congress has a duty to act as a check on the Supreme Court and restore faith in our judicial system. They can do that by creating a code of ethics for the Supreme Court.The highest court in the land should be held to the highest standard. It’s time to demand that Congress hold the Supreme Court accountable.Melody Mikuls, Hemet
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The rejection of our Palm Springs Section 14 proposal is a sad outcome
