TO: Mayor Salinas and Members of the Hayward City Council FROM: Deborah Tolefree-Harris, former resident and descendant of a Russell City homeowner Good evening, Mayor Salinas and Hayward City Council Members. I’m Deborah Tolefree-Harris and lived at 25014 Adams Street in Russell City with my parents (Climmie and Octavia Tolefree), 5 brothers and 1 sister all my life until I married in 1962.
I applaud the City of Hayward for taking the lead in this reparation process, for apologizing for the atrocities inflicted on the Russell City community and for providing a budget for research by the Ceres Research Group as well as Dr. Elizabeth Brown and Dr. George Barganier of San Francisco State University. As a member of the Russell City Steering Committee Leadership Group, I support the research that has been done to formulate the proposed recommendations being presented today for your consideration.
I had a wonderful childhood, have many cherished and fond memories. I never considered Russell City to be a blight ghetto, in fact, I didn’t know any better. The first time I was introduced or heard the word “ghetto” was in my 9th grade Social Studies class at Hayward High when my teacher referred to Russell City as such. I thought we were living our best life; I didn’t realize that we were being deprived of the basic amenities provided other communities. I felt protected because everyone looked out for each other and questioned strangers, so there was no fear interacting within the community. We lived as just a big family, more or less. My parents provided the best they could. Many life lessons were taught: how to treat and respect ourselves, authority, our elders, guests and neighbors. Not all these lessons were passed down to the next generation.
I felt honored to be a part of the Steering Committee and an ambassador for the community that I grew up in and to bring to the forefront the desires and wishes of the people who lived there. Of the 13-15 committee members, only 2 members lived in Russell City. Gloria Moore and I. Gloria and I are cousins and both attended Russell City Elementary, Hayward High School and college together. Many families lived in Russell City and, as the survey shows, have different opinions which have been narrowed down to 26 recommendations. The common theme of the 26 recommendations is “Reparative Justice.” Although I appreciate the City’s acknowledgment and ultimate written apology for the injustice committed, an apology is just words and does not repair the financial damage that was caused to my parents who lived without sanitation services for 20 years although they were taxed by Alameda County for services that were never brought to fruition. An apology does not repair the damage nor the insult endured by my parents being forced to move by eminent domain and given a measly amount to relocate and start their lives all over again in a new city. An apology does not make up for the financial harm and generational wealth lost. The City of Hayward and the County of Alameda owe a financial debt.
The residents who lived through the indignities of no sanitation, no sidewalks and no basic municipal infrastructure, are now 70-80+ years old. For those who lived through and survived these indignities reparations means monetary recompense, first to the living survivors and then to the descendants of those who have passed on.
IntroductiontoAddendumsSubmittedbyCarolynJohnson
ThisaddendumaddressescriticalgapsandlimitationsidentifiedinReclaimingRussellCity:AComprehensiveApproachtoReparativeJusticeandCommunityRenewal(KerbyLynch,Ph.D.andAishaCanfield,MPP).Whilethedocumentprovidesvaluableinsights,thisaddendumaddressescrucialissues,inmyopinion,underminingitsvalidity, reliability, andcomprehensiveness.Specifically, theaddendumcritiques:
● Omissionofcrucialissues:Thisdocumentcriticallyassessesthelimitedfocusontheessentialissueoflandrestitutionasacoreconsideration.● Methodologicalshortcomings:Concernssurroundingdataanalysishighlightthepotentialforbiasedorincompleteresultsandraiseconcernsaboutthegeneralizabilityoffindings.
Theaddendumaimstocenterthecrucialissueoflandrestitutionandensurethevoicesofpropertyandbusinessownersareelevatedandstrivesforanapproachthatcenterstheimpactofthe“landgrab”bythegovernmentanditslong-termeffectonthewealthandwellbeingofRussellCityResidentsandtheirdescendants.ThisAddendumalsosummarizescriticalfeedbackprovidedtotheauthorsthatdidnotreceivearesponseandthusisinsertedherefortherecord.I believethisAddendumultimatelystrengthensthefoundationoftherecommendationsandpresentsamorerobustandjustframeworkfortheRussellCitycommunity, ensuringthatallvoicesareheardandcriticalconcernsareadequatelyaddressed.
TakingprivatepropertyandbusinessesinRussellCityhaddevastatingconsequencesforthepropertyandbusinessownersandtheirdescendants.Theshort-termhardshipsofdisplacementandeconomiclosswerecompoundedbylong-termeffectsthatcontinuetoimpactthemandtheirdescendantstoday.TherearenumerousnegativeImpactsfromtheforcedsaleorlossofpropertyandbusinessesinRussellCity, includingbutnotlimitedto:
● DisplacementandDisruption: Residents,oftenwithdeepcommunityties,wereforcedtorelocate,leadingtothebreak-upofestablishedsocialnetworks.● LossofHomesandBusinesses: Destructionofhomesandbusinesses,causingimmediateeconomichardshipandlossofwealth.● LimitedRelocationOptions: Affordablehousingoptionswerescarce,forcingdisplacedresidentstomovetolessdesirableareaswithlower-qualityhousingandamenities.● PsychologicalTrauma: Witnessingtheforcedsaleanddestructionoftheirhomesandneighborhoodscausedsignificantemotionaldistressforresidents.● GenerationalPoverty: Displacementdisruptedwealthaccumulationandaccesstoeconomicopportunities,creatingacycleofpovertythatcontinuestoimpactdescendants.
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● LossofHistoricalandCulturalSignificance: ThephysicaldestructionofRussellCitynearlyerasedandobscureditshistoryandculturalheritage.
I. ReturnTheLand
Severalexamplesofgovernmentsreturninglandorpropertytoindividuals,oftenduetohistoricalinjusticesorpolicychanges.Hereareafewexamples:
1.LandReturnedtoIndigenousPeoples:
● Canada:InCanada,theIndianResidentialSchoolsSettlementAgreement(2007)includedprovisionsforthereturnofsometraditionallandstoIndigenouscommunities.● Australia:TheAustraliangovernmenthasvariouspoliciesandprogramsforreturninglandtoIndigenousAustralians,thoughtheprocessisongoingandcomplex.● UnitedStates:IntheUnitedStates,variousfederalandstatelawsandprogramsexistforreturninglandtoNativeAmericantribes,oftenbasedonhistoricaltreatiesorlandclaims.
2.PropertyReturnedafterPoliticalPersecution:
● Germany:Afterreunification,theGermangovernmentenactedpoliciesforrestitutionofpropertyconfiscatedfromindividualsduringtheNaziregime.● Chile:FollowingthePinochetdictatorship,theChileangovernmentimplementedprogramstoreturnpropertyconfiscatedfrompoliticaldissidents.● SouthAfrica:TheSouthAfricanTruthandReconciliationCommission(TRC)playedaroleinfacilitatingthereturnofpropertyseizedduringtheapartheidera.
3.PropertyReturnedduetoPolicyChanges:
● HongKong:AftertheendofBritishruleinHongKong,theChinesegovernmentreturnedsomepreviouslyconfiscatedlandtoindividuals.● Vietnam:FollowingtheDoiMoireforms,theVietnamesegovernmentreturnedsomepropertypreviouslycollectivizedundercommunistrule.
II. ProvideAlternativeLand
GiventhesaleoftheRussellCitylandtoadeveloperwhobuiltanindustrialcenter,navigatingareturnoftheoriginallandwouldbeverycomplex.Itcouldbechallengingtoimplement.Whileofferingalternativelandorpropertyisnotauniversallyadoptedpractice,therehavebeeninstanceswheregovernmentshave Page2_CJComments
offeredsuchalternativesinsituationsinvolvingeminentdomainwhentheoriginalpropertywasnolongeravailable:
● UnitedStates:○ DuringtheYerbaBuenaGardensdevelopmentprojectinSanFrancisco,California,displacedresidentswereofferedrelocationassistance,includingtheoptiontochoosefromseveralreplacementhousingunits.○ InNewYorkCity, thegovernmentoffereddisplacedbusinessesalternativelocationswithintheredevelopmentareaaspartoftheFultonCenterproject.TheCityofHaywardownstheHaywardExecutiveAirport(HWD)andtheformerSkywestGolfCourse. ● HaywardExecutiveAirport:Thecityownsandoperatestheairport,whichservesgeneralaviationandbusinessesinthearea.HaywardExecutiveAirport:https://www.hayward-ca.gov/airport/airport.php.● FormerSkywestGolfCourse:ThecityclosedtheSkywestGolfCourseinSeptember2020andisredevelopingtheland.Theyareseekinginputfromthecommunityonthefutureuseofthe126-acresite(noteRussellCitywasapproximately1,000acres).SkywestPropertyReuseProject:https://www.hayward-ca.gov/airport/doing-business-with-us/projects.
Herearesomecategoriesandexamplesofadditionalpropertiesthecityownsbasedonpubliclyavailableinformation:
PublicFacilities:
● Parksandrecreationfacilitiesincludeparks,playgrounds,sportsfields,andcommunitycenters.● Librariesandpublicbuildings.● Firestationsandpolicestations.● Schools(thoughmostK-12schoolsinCaliforniaareoperatedbylocalschooldistricts,notthecitygovernment).
Infrastructure:
● Streets,roads,andsidewalks.● Drainagesystems.● Publicutilities,suchaswaterandsewersystems,insomecases.
LandandBuildings:
● Undevelopedlandthatthecitymaybeplanningforfutureuse.
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● Parkinglotsandgarages.● Affordablehousingunitsorothertypesofhousingdevelopmentsownedandmanagedbythecity.● Commercialbuildingsorofficespacethatthecityleasesouttogeneraterevenue.
It'simportanttonotethatthisisnotanexhaustivelist,andthespecificpropertiesownedbytheCityofHaywardcanchangeovertime.I requestthattheCityprovideacomprehensivelisttotheSteeringCommittee.
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SummaryofPriorComments&Feedback:
1. Completeness:Whilethereportsummarizessurveyresults,considerincludingcrucialhistoricaleventsfromRussellCity'spastforbettercontext.2. ClarityandOrganization:Thereportneedsimprovedclarityinsectionsoutsidethesurveyresultsandharmsummary. Headersseemadequatebutcouldbefurtherrefined.3. RespectandCulturalSensitivity:Ensurethereportmaintainsarespectfulandculturallysensitivetone.4. SourceCitations:Includepropercitationsandreferencestosupportallfactualstatements.5. CommunityRepresentation:Uponbasicreviewoftherawdata,I haveconcernsaboutthevalidityandreliabilityofanyconclusionsmadeinthereportbasedonthedata.6. Visuals:Considerincorporatingrelevantvisualslikegraphsorchartstoenhancereadability.7. InterdisciplinaryExpertise:Clarifythereport'spurpose:Isitsolelysummarizingsurveyresults,orarebroaderperspectivesneededfromdisciplineslikesociology?Ifso,specificexpertsororganizationsshouldbeconsulted.8. PolicyImplications:Whilethesurveyisvaluable,basingfuturepoliciessolelyonalimitedpoolofrespondentsrequirescaution.Uponbasicreviewoftherawdata,I haveconcernsaboutthevalidityandreliabilityofanyconclusionsmadeinthereportbasedonthedata.Clarifyifthereportaimstoguidefuturepolicies.9. ReflectingCommunityNeeds:Uponbasicreviewoftherawdata,I haveconcernsaboutthevalidityandreliabilityofanyconclusionsmadeinthereportbasedonthedata.Acknowledgethesurveyasjustoneelementofthemoreextensiverecommendationprocess.10.EligibilityCriteria:Asthesearen'tdirectlyrelatedtothesurvey, reconsiderincludingproposedeligibilitycriteriainthisreport.Clarifythepurposeofmentioningthemhere.
AdditionalNotes:
● Clarityregardingthereport'spurposeisneededformoreprecisecommunicationwithinthecommittee.Establishawell-definedaudienceandobjectivetoavoidconfusion.● ConsiderremovingthefollowingfromtheGeneralsection:○ "Indoingso,itaimstobeasignificantmilestone..."○ "ComprehensiveHarmReport"(remove"Comprehensive")○ Replace"futureactionsandadvocacyandseeksto"with"RussellCitySteeringCommitteeintheirquest..."○ Replace"for"with"onetoolto" Page5_CJComments
○ Remove"Recognizingtheplan..."and"presentinganambitious..."sentences.● Introduction:○ Add"forConsiderationbytheRussellCitySteeringCommittee."○ Replace"until"with"in"○ Replacetheintroductoryparagraphwithabriefstatementintroducingthereport'spurposeandaudience:"ThisreportpresentsthefindingsofaharmassessmentconductedbyCeres[YourCompanyName]onbehalfoftheRussellCitySteeringCommittee.Itaimstoinformthecommittee'sdevelopmentofrecommendationstotheHaywardCityCouncilregarding..."● DataandMethodology:○ Addquestionsregardingdatacollectionmethodsandsourcesofinformationbeyondthesurvey.● Specificcomments:Considerretainingspecificcommentsthatraiseessentialpointsbutrephrasethemobjectivelyforconstructivefeedback.
Byaddressingthesepoints,theauthorscancreateamoreprecise,informative,well-roundedreportthatservesitsintendedpurposeeffectively.
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Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee – Executive Summary Addendum for Inclusion Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson – RCRJP Steering Committee Member
Introduction to
Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson
In looking forward and in order to seamlessly and intentionally create pathways for transitions to and incorporation of future and current California State initiatives, policies and laws, California State assembly and senate bills for the greater improveme nt throughout the entire State of California, its Counties, Cities, and Unincorporated areas – may I humbly request for inclusion as provided the following Addendums to the Russell City Reparative Justice Steering Committee's Executive Summary as presented by its Chair: Aisha Knowles, Vice Chair Elizabeth Sanchez and, collectively, its Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee members as my personal addendum package submission for inclusion along with the inclusion of the 2023 Russell City Survey Results Final Report as summarized, written and submitted by the Ceres Policy Research Group Team.
Allowing the base line and foundation for the types of reparative justice actions to include yet not be limited to the following performative actions with the express intent being words and actions which resonate at the same level of importance providing n o exclusions/justifications wherein the two (word and action) can be used one without the other for the action types listed as follows:
Restitution;
Compensation;
Rehabilitation;
Satisfaction; and
Guarantees of Non-Repetition.
Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee – Executive Summary Addendum for Inclusion Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson – RCRJP Steering Committee Member Addendum – MEJ -1
Restitution - (Business Owner Families)
2024 Proposed Bill - Referencing Assembly Bill - AB XXX (Gipson) – Eliminate barriers to licensure for people with criminal records. - Expansion of AB 2138 to prioritize African American applicants seeking occupational licenses, especially those who are descendants.
The intent of this addendum submission is to highlight how the Russell City community who for the most part were only able to relocate themselves into communities which were in Redlined communities , spaces which were inherently over policed where business owners were not able to successfully re-establish their businesses in those spaces. Allegedly (until verified with an audit professionally executed ) property taxes collected from home s located in those redlined communities quite possible were redirected for use in other un -redlined communities . Residents in those redlined communities were exposed to more instances where former residents of the Russell City community being arrested, incarcerated (at Santa Rita Jail) and creating for most their first criminal record thus garnering profits for Alameda County and its affiliated and associated profit sharing (and/ or other forms of financial and/or tax breaks/incentives) cities .
For those business owner residents and their descendants of the Russell City community whose families owned and operated businesses in Russell City to be provided the opportunity to and funding/compensation to restore/repair/repay for the loss of finances generating income by way of their family business to create businesses to restart and/or recreate their pathways to growing/recreating their generational wealth.
For the City of Hayward to work with transparency and in solidarity with the (Former) Residents and their Descendants in support of moving this healing conversation for Russell City Resident Business Owner Families and put action to word to prioritize this item and to include other involved participants in order to recommend avenues which will allow for overall healing for connected communities.
Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee – Executive Summary Addendum for Inclusion Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson – RCRJP Steering Committee Member Addendum – MEJ - 2
Restitution - (Property Owner Families)
2024 Proposed Bill - Referencing Senate Bill - SB XXX (Bradford) – Property takings: Restore property taken during race-based uses of eminent domain to its original owners or provide another effective remedy where appropriate, such as restitution or compensation.
The intent of this addendum submission is to highlight how this Russell City Community, City of Hayward, neighbouring Cities, included in and including Alameda County were and in most cases are still affected by the removal of the residents of Russell City. This community was not pr ovided with relocation assistance, access to City of Hayward or Alameda County sanctioned and approved resources of financial, health related resources . Further to Address the impact to displaced Russell City resident which created few to no spaces and homes where these residents could secure new homes in which to live due the practice where in residential and housing developments both in Hayward and other Alameda County cities which had incorporated the use of restrictive covenants and Home Owner Associations which incorporated restrictive covenant language to prevent specific groups of people from moving into their communities . The Russell City community , who for the most part , were only able to relocate themselves into communit ies which were in Redlined communities , spaces which were inherently over policed and allegedly (until verified with an audit professionally executed) were the property taxes collected from homes located in those redlined communities quite possible were redirected for use in other Alameda County un-redlined communities outside of the redlined spaces.
For those property owner residents and their descendants of the Russell City community whose families owned property to be provided the opportunity, government owned land, and funding/compensation to own, rebuild and/or recreate their pathways to growing/recreating their generational wealth. Find ways to create tax breaks and/or tax based incentives to compensate – restore/repair/repay for the loss of the use of the property and restore/repair/repay for the loss of income generational wealth due to the loss of the property to which property owners lost access to home equity for future growth of income and financing for higher education for themselves and their descendants.
For the City of Hayward to work with transparency and in solidarity with the (Former) Residents and their Descendants in support of moving this healing conversation for Russell City Resident Property Owner Families and put action to word to prioritize this item and to include other involved participants in order to recommend avenues which will allow for overall healing for connected communities.
Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee – Executive Summary Addendum for Inclusion Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson – RCRJP Steering Committee Member
Addendum – MEJ - 2
Restitution - (Property Owner Families)
(Continued)
Reference - Excerpt Testimony from Bernie Patterson on January 8, 1963 before the
Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda, Sitting as the Redevelopment Agency Public Hearings on the Russell City Redevelopment Project
Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee – Executive Summary Addendum for Inclusion Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson – RCRJP Steering Committee Member Addendum – MEJ - 2
Restitution - (Property Owner Families)
(Continued)
Reference - Excerpt Testimony from MRS. J. M. HENRY on January 8, 1963 before the
Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda, Sitting as the Redevelopment Agency Public Hearings on the Russell City Redevelopment Project
Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee – Executive Summary Addendum for Inclusion Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson – RCRJP Steering Committee Member Addendum – MEJ - 3
Rehabilitation - (Russell City Community Residents and Descendants) 2024 Proposed Bill - Referencing Assembly Bill - AB XXX (McCarty) – Career Education Financial Aid for redlined communities
2024 Proposed Bill - Referencing Assembly Bill - AB 1929 (McKinnor - Expand access to career technical education by creating a competitive grant program to increase enrollment of descendants in STEM-related CTE programs at the high school and college levels.
For City of Hayward along with Russell City family representatives to review and implement City of Hayward plans and policies to incorporate State senate and assembly bills, policies and/or laws for use as/with the Russell City Community Reparative Justice action items by working with Alameda County and State of California representatives to make available the opportunity for Russell City residents and descendant to have full access to Career and Education funding opportunities.
For the City of Hayward to work with transparency and in solidarity with the (Former) Residents and their Descendants in support of moving this healing conversation for Russell City Resident Community Residents and Descendants putting action to word to prioritize this item and to include other involved participants in order to recommend avenues which will allow for overall healing for connected communities.
Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee – Executive Summary Addendum for Inclusion Addendums Submitted by Marian Johnson – RCRJP Steering Committee Member Addendum – MEJ - 4
Guarantee of Non-Repetition - (Russell City Community Residents and Descendants) Partnership, Engagement and Cooperation
For the city of hayward to partner with the Russell city community Residents and Descendants to proceed with developing a presentation for the Alameda County Reparation Board to confirm that eminent domain was used to take land on the City (Alameda County Cities) - County level.
To confirm the role the City of Hayward played in telling the truth of this story, as did Alameda County in its apology to the residents of Russell City, that several properties in Russell City did receive market rate for their properties that were hundreds of thousand dollars being substantially more than residential property owners and other business owners properties, which were taken by the county using eminent domain and the other residents (resident non-property owners) were not provided financing or other resources to move out of Russell City. There were no relocation financial compensation and/or resources provided to the Russell City Resident Community.
To work in solidarity and support of moving this healing conversation to include other involved participants in order to recommend avenues which will allow for overall healing for connected communities. For the City of Hayward to work with transparency and in solidarity with the (Former) Residents and their Descendants in support of moving this healing conversation for Russell City Resident and Descendants by putting their actions to word to prioritize items mentioned in afore mentioned Addendum's MEJ - 1, MEJ – 2, MEJ – 3, and MEJ - 4 and to include other involved participants in order to recommend avenues which will allow for overall healing for Russell City and other connected communities in order to be an excellent example of working in good faith, being absolutely transparent and committed to working to provide justice and make level everyone's opportunity to live healthy, whole and fair lives.
Addendum
I am Michael D Johnson on the Steering Committee on the Reparative Justice Project. I do not agree with there only being 22 recommendations of the items submitted and not the full 26 that were turned in by our committee. One thing that I would like to add is a loss of future income from my family and others which were conducting business in Russell city as mine was conducting business out of Ideal Cafe in Russell City. With my grandparents having to move they have lost income from that unscheduled and uncompensated move. And from that the loss of income from that to today needs to be paid to our family and that amount added to the loss of personal property and the stress of having to move to another city without any compensation of equivalent to the loss of real estate and business income of any kind. Our family has not and will never be the same because of having to pick up and move after being well-established in the City of Russell City as if they were criminals.
Michael D. Johnson
RCRJP Steering Committee member
RUSSELL CITY RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROJECT
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER
ADDENDUM
Submitted in Response to the Ceres
Policy Research Report Entitled
“RECLAIMING RUSSELL CITY:
A Comprehensive Approach to Reparative
Justice and Community Renewal”
Submitted by Michael V. Johnson
Member & Parliamentarian, Steering Committee
Russell City Reparative Justice Project
March 4, 2024
Addendum Contents
Meet the Submitters
Definition of Reparative Justice
Project SBAR / Key Takeaways
Addendum Recommendations
Appendices
1. Project Scope & Committee Mandate
2. COH Stoplight Presentation: Recommendation Analysis
3. Role of Consultant: Ceres Policy Research, LLC (CPR)
4. Prioritization of CPR Proposed Recommendations
5. Recommendation Details – Repay The Debt
3/4/2024 RCRJP – Committee Member Addendum 2
MEET THE ADDENDUM SUBMITTERS
Michael V. Johnson, is the son of Jessie Mae Patterson and Clarence Hardy Johnson. • His father’s parents were Jessie Mae & Lee Henry.
• His mother’s grand-parents were Bernice “Dyke” & Cassie Patterson. • Both families were homeowners & landowners in Russell City. • Bernice Patterson’s and Jessie Mae Henry’s original testimonies are recorded in the Public Hearing on the Russell City Redevelopment Project before the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County, Sitting as the Redevelopment Agency Hearings which took place on January 8th, 15th and 22nd in 1963 (pages 70 and 195).
• Russell City is where his Mom & Dad first met and were later married. • He, along with his sister Marian, his parents, grand-parents and great grand- parents were all forced to relocate from Russell City to Oakland, CA, Tracy CA, and Oklahoma City, OK by 1964.
Service is the price you pay for the space you occupy! It has been my honor and privilege to serve on the Steering Committee of the Russell City Reparative Justice Project to speak truth to power on behalf of my family and the Russell City community at-large.
3/4/2024 RCRJP – Committee Member Addendum 3
Jessie Mae & Lee Henry
Cassie & Bernice Patterson
Jessie Mae & Clarence Johnson
Marian & Michael Johnson
Definition of Reparative Justice
3/4/2024 RCRJP – Committee Member Addendum 4
The Steering Committee Members for the Russell City
Reparative Justice Project, agreed that reparative
justice for the former residents and descendants of the Russell City community includes:
• Addressing the harm inflicted
• Holding everyone who caused the harm accountable
• Placing all options for reparations and restitution on the table for consideration
• Correcting the historical record
In the final analysis, for the former residents and descendants of the Russell City Community, Reparative Justice means:
REPAIRING THE HARM.
RESTORING THE LAND.
REPAYING THE DEBT.
• The core consideration of this project, to “determine what appropriate restitution” looks like for the former Russell City residents has not been adequately addressed, if at all. • Community outreach, engagement, involvement and feedback has been woefully inadequate to ensure support for any
recommendations developed or presented for consideration. • The recommendations presented in the CPR Report are not the product of any collaboration between the Steering Committee and CPR, but rather of the collaboration between CPR and their client the COH.
• No consensus has been reached, nor has any
endorsement been made of the CPR report, the survey or
any or the conclusions made from the survey data by CPR, by the Steering Committee.
• COH staff, (Asst. City Manager Regina Y oungblood in
particular) has gone out of their way to ensure that full transparency, between CPR, the COH and the full membership of the Steering Committee would not be realized in order to influence the outcome of the project and to shape the
“recommendations” that will be ultimately presented to the City Council.
Key Takeaways
5 SITUATION
• On November 16, 2021, the City of Hayward’s
(COH) City Council issued an apology that
served as an acknowledgment of a painful
history of harms inflicted on the former
residents and descendants of Russell City
• The COH directed its apology to Black,
Indigenous, and People of Color and LatinX
community members and that,
• The adverse consequences of Hayward’s history
of redlining continues to impact BIPOC and
Latinx community members of Hayward to this
day,
• The COH committed to taking actionable steps
to address these harms.
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND
The Russell City Reparative Justice Project (RCRJP)
calls for the COH to work with former Russell City
residents and descendants to “determine
appropriate restitution” for its involvement in
inequitable treatment and forced relocation of
Russell City Community members.
The scope of the RCRJP was to include:
• Fact-finding and academic research,
• Consideration and evaluation of reparative
justice models and
• Developing a consensus on proposals and
recommendations for City Council
consideration and potential consideration by
other governing bodies for appropriate
restitution and/or reparative justice responses
ASSESSMENT
• Ceres Policy Research (CPR) vacated their support and effectively ceased all facilitation of and communication with the Steering Committee on September 13, 2023.
• The report produced by CPR is not the “Comprehensive
Approach to Reparative Justice and Community Renewal”
it claims to be.
• The recommendations in the report were not “carefully crafted in consultation with the RCRJP Steering
Committee Members“. The draft report were sent to the
Asst. City Manager in October after CPR ended it
relationship and support of the Steering Committee.
• A review of the raw data from the community survey
reveals serious data integrity and methodological
shortcomings that render any meaningful analysis
unreliable.
• The Asst. City Manager (Regina Youngblood) is incapable of providing adequate staff support to the RCRJP. She has been more hindrance than help throughout the entire
lifecycle of this project to date.
• The Steering Committee’s Position Statement,
(along with the attached addendums submitted
by individual members of the Steering
Committee) be forwarded and shared with
Alameda County Reparations Commission as
called for in the Project’s scope of work.
• The Russell City Reparative Justice Project
(RCRJP) moves forward under the guidance,
supervision, oversight and direction of the
COH’s Community Services Commission to
continue the work of the Steering Committee
that remains uncompleted.
• The COH renews its commitment to taking
meaningful and actionable steps to address the
harms that it has admitted to and apologized for.
ADDENDUM RECOMMENDATIONS
PILLAR #3: REHABILITATION
Academic Scholarships, Free Tuition and
Tuition Reimbursement Payments
• The Hayward City Council, would support and approve,
recommendations that are similar to AB 3121, that would establish the Russell City Office of Education and Social Services which would offer free tuition to the descendants of former residents of Russell City in private K-12 education and academic scholarships to those pursuing higher education in the state.
• The Hayward City Council, would support and approve,
recommendations that are similar to AB 3121, that would expand access to career technical education (which combine academic education with occupational training to prepare students for careers in current or emerging professions) for the former residents and descendants of Russell City.
• The Hayward City Council, would support and approve,
tuition reimbursement payments (from 1963 forward) to former residents and descendants who pursued and completed their higher education (trade, technical school, college and graduate education).
REPAY THE DEBT
6 REPAIR THE HARM RESTORE THE LAND
PILLAR #1: RESTITUTION PILLAR #2: COMPENSATION
Retroactive Payment of Relocation Fees to All
Displaced Former Residents of Russell City
• Consistent with Cal. Gov. Code § 7260, Displaced person" means any person who moves from real property or moves his or her personal property from real property, as a direct result of a written notice of intent to acquire, or the acquisition of, the real property, in whole or in part, for a program or project undertaken by a public entity or by any person having an agreement with, or acting on behalf of, a public entity.
• Consistent with Cal. Gov. Code § 7262, Whenever a program or project to be undertaken by a public entity will result in the displacement of any person, the displaced person is entitled to payment for actual moving and related expenses
• Consistent with Cal. Gov. Code § 7263, In addition to the payments required by Section 7262, the public entity, as a part of the cost of acquisition, shall make a payment to the owner of real property, not to exceed twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($22,500)
Payments shall be made (with compound interest since 1963) directly to the former residents of Russell City or their descendants. (See Exhibit 6) Support Legislation Returning the Land Known as
Russell City to Former Residents & Descendants
• The Hayward City Council, would support and approve,
legislation that is similar to SB 796, that would allow Alameda County to return land located in Russell City to former Residents and their descendants who lived and owned land, property and businesses at the time of their displacement from Russell City.
• The Hayward City Council, would support and approve,
legislation that is similar to SB 796, that would authorize Alameda County to “sell, transfer, or encumber the land known as Russell City” while excluding the property from restrictions — including those that would force it to be used only for public recreation and beach purposes to former Residents and their descendants who lived and owned land, property and businesses at the time of their displacement from Russell City.
• The Hayward City Council, would support and approve,
legislation that is similar to SB 796, which recognizes “that if you can inherit generational wealth, you can inherit generational debt.” Addendum Appendix
7 Appendices
1. Project Scope & Committee Mandate
2. COH Stoplight Presentation: Recommendation Analysis
3. Role of Consultant: Ceres Policy Research, LLC (CPR)
4. Prioritization of CPR Proposed Recommendations
5. Recommendation Details – Repay The Debt
Appendix 1:
Project Scope &
Steering Committee Mandate
3/4/2024 RCRJP – Committee Member Addendum 8
1 Represent the Russell City Community in
communications between the City of Hayward
and the larger Russell City Community
2 Make decisions for the Russell City Community
3 Communicate any developments and
decisions to the Russell City community
STEERING COMMITTEE MANDATEPROJECT SCOPE
Phase 1
Discovery, fact-finding and academic research;
Formation of a governing structure for the Project team; Identifying & contacting former residents and descendants.
Phase 2
Establish and implement governing structure;
Community-based information gathering and storytelling; Consider & evaluate reparative justice models;
Synthesis of learning from academic and community-based research and storytelling.
Phase 3
Develop consensus on proposals and recommendations for
City Council consideration and potential consideration by other governing bodies for appropriate restitution and/or reparative justice responses.
Phase 4
City Council action and potential actions by other governing bodies to approve and implement reparative justice
recommendations.
Type Description Viability Possible Outcome
Non-Monetary Benefits Likely approval by Council / NSTL1Continued and future City support of Russell City through public arts and installations
APPENDIX 2
City of Hayward (COH) Recommendation Analysis
“Stop Light Presentation”
9 Monetary Benefits First time home ownership down payment assistance Litigation possible. Likely approval by Council only if formulated to benefit RCD2
Monetary Benefits Educational Scholarships Litigation possible. Likely approval by Council only if formulated to benefit RCD2
Non-Monetary Benefits Support legislation allowing impacted parties to sue public agencies that abused "urban renewal" process at City, County or state level.
Communities would work independently to pursue
land acquisition or monetary compensation through
litigation.
Monetary Benefits Direct monetary compensation Litigation likely. Reparations are considered an “illegal gift” with no “public purpose.”
Non-Monetary Benefits Awarding private land Litigation likely. Outcome of Bruce’s Beach is extraordinary exception.
Non-Monetary Benefits Awarding Public City owned land ‘in-kind” Litigation likely. Public land cannot be given to individuals for personal use.
APPENDIX 3
Role of Ceres Policy Research
To provide expertise and
competency in project
management, reparations, and
reparative justice strategies and
guiding frameworks
1. Project Management
2. Communications
3. Documentation and Comprehensive
Analysis of Harm Impact
4. Deliverables
a) Timeline
b) Reparative Justice
recommendations,
c) Synthesized analysis of research
findings and
d) resident interviews
Scope of Service (included but were not limited to
the following services:
• Guide the Committee members on agenda development,
facilitation, and distribution of meeting materials.
• Attend and facilitate all regularly scheduled and ad hoc meetings Committee Meetings as needed.
• Guide Committee in the development of a final
report comprised of short, mid, and long‐term
recommendations, for presentation to the City Council.
Communications
• Work with Committee Leadership and City
representatives to ensure ongoing community engagement
and information sharing with broader Russell City
• Meet monthly with RCRJP Leadership, City Staff leads for planning, discussion of progress and addressing issues as they arise.
• All materials of a preliminary nature, such as drafts of report of reparative justice recommendations, notes, historical findings, and other data, prepared or
obtained in the performance of this agreement,
shall be made available, upon request
To be clear, although the “Consultant [was] the
Russell City Reparative Justice Project (RCCRJ)
Steering Committee’s selected vendor…
The “AGREEMENT FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES [is]
BETWEEN THE CITY OF HAYWARD
AND CERES POLICY RESEARCH
LLC”…
The City of Hayward (COH) is Ceres Policy
Research’s client… they were and are under the
direction and supervision of COH Staff, and not
the Steering Committee.
Effective Date and Term
• The effective date of the agreement is March
31, 2023, and it shall terminate no later than
February 1, 2024
3/4/2024
Conference presentation 10
Kerby Lynch, PhD.
Aisha Canfield, M.P .P .
APPENDIX 4
Five Pillars of Restorative Justice
11 1.
Restitution
Property
Restoration and
Fair
Compensation in
Russell City
(2.58)
Human Rights
and Restoration
of Property
(4.33)
Restitution for
Denial of
Infrastructure
and Community
Base (4.75)
Russell City
Comprehensive
Housing Initiative
(9.92)
2. Compensation
Compensation
and Support for
Russell City's
Former
Residents
(8.00)
Free Education
for Descendants
(10.83)
Establishment of
a Community
Fund
(11.33)
4. Guarantee of
Non-Repetition
Education and
Awareness
Programs
(16.50)
Community Land
Trusts and
Housing Policies
(16.58)
Community
Engagement and
Accountability
(16.75)
Policy Changes
(17.75)
Publication and
Storytelling
(18.00)
Revised Eminent
Domain Law and
Community
Governance
(21.08)
3. Rehabilitation
Educational
Scholarships and
Support
(10.00)
Employment and
Economic
Opportunities
(11.67)
Environmental
Justice and
Health Initiatives
(13.42)
Preventing
Recurrence and
Legal Changes
(13.75)
Russell City
Community
Center
(19.58)
Infrastructure
Development
(21.25)
5. Satisfaction
Transparency
and
Accountability
(14.92)
Education and
Documentation
(16.17)
Recognition of
Russell City
Luminaries and
Documentation
of Contribution
(17.67)
Revitalization of
Russell City's
Heritage and
Community
Spaces
(18.33)
Russell City
Cultural
Heritage
Preservation
Commission
(19.08)
Memorials and
Commemoratio
n(21.33)
Official Apologies
and
Acknowledgment
(22.83)
STEERING COMMITTEE PRIORITIZATION OF CERES POLICY RESEARCH PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS Consistent with Cal. Gov. Code § 7260
• Displaced person" means both of the following: Any
person who moves from real property, or who moves his
or her personal property from real property, either:
• (i) As a direct result of a written notice of intent to acquire, or the acquisition of, the real property, in whole or in part, for a program or project undertaken by a
public entity or by any person having an
agreement with, or acting on behalf of, a public
entity.
• (ii) As a direct result of the rehabilitation,
demolition, or other displacing activity, as the public entity may prescribe under a program or project
undertaken by a public entity, of real property on which the person is a residential tenant or conducts a business or farm operation, if the public entity determines that the displacement is permanent.
Consistent with Cal. Gov. Code § 7262
(a) Whenever a program or project to be undertaken by a public entity will result in the displacement of any person, the displaced person is entitled to payment for
actual moving and related expenses as the public entity determines to be reasonable and necessary, including
expenses for all of the following:
(1) Actual and reasonable expenses in moving himself or herself, his or her family, business, or farm operation, or his or her, or his or her family's, personal property.
(2) Actual direct losses of tangible personal property as a result of moving or discontinuing a business or farm operation, but not to exceed an amount equal to the reasonable
expenses that would have been required to relocate the
property, as determined by the public entity.
(3) Actual and reasonable expenses in searching for a
replacement business or farm, not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(4) Actual and reasonable expenses necessary to reestablish a displaced farm, nonprofit organization, or small business at its new site, but not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Consistent with Cal. Gov. Code § 7263
(a) In addition to the payments required by Section 7262, the public entity, as a part of the cost of acquisition, shall make a payment to the owner of real property acquired for public use which is improved with a dwelling actually owned and occupied by the owner as a permanent or customary and usual place of abode for not less than 180 days prior to the initiation of negotiation for the acquisition of that property.
(b) The payment, not to exceed twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($22,500), shall be based on the following factors:
(1) The amount, if any, which, when added to the acquisition cost of the dwelling acquired by the public entity equals the reasonable cost of a comparable replacement
dwelling.
(2) (2) The amount, if any, which will compensate the
displaced owner for any increased interest costs which
the owner is required to pay for financing the acquisition of a comparable replacement dwelling. 12
Exhibit 5: Repay The Debt
Recommendation Details
Payment of Relocation Fees to all Displaced Former Residents of Russell City Velda Goe Addendum Statement Regarding the Recommendations 1 message
Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 8:36 AM
•Reclaim the land:
to its displaced Property Owners, Businesses and Community Organizations or their Descendants, in the case of death of the formerly named; or the value thereof as of the date that the property or the fair market value of the property is to be transfered
to the formerly named or Descendant.
•Partial funding is to be derived from tax and fee monies generated and collected from the current occupants of illicitly obtained land from the former Russell City Residents. •Establish a mutually agreed upon eligibility protocol:
for recompense and compensation schedules for Russell City Property and Business Owners, Community Organizations, Renters and their Descendants; to be determined by the RCRJP Steering Committee; the RC Community-at-Large and the appropriate COH Governance bodies. •Establish a Tax Rebate:
in perpetuity from displaced Property Owners, Businesses and Community Organizations and/or their Descendants, to be determined by an agreed upon formula equating what was lost during the RC displacement
•Re-establish the town of Russell City:
in whole or in part as a Community; to be occupied by displaced Russell City Residents and/or their Descendants, to the degree possible and as they desire; to equate their originally owned real estate or establishment in Russell City.
•Support a self-governing, non-profit body of Russell City Residents and Descendants:
to establish and ensure the revival and continual Russell City township and Community.
•Establish a Russell City Community Center (RCCC): within the boundaries of Russell City - wholly owned and debt-free by the
Resident-led non-profit to be formed to manage and maintain it via a Community fund to be earmarked for that purpose; in perpetuity.
The RCCC is to be a Multi-purpose venue in good repair to have a minimum occupancy and parking for 500 persons with amenities to include:
• Administrative Offices
• RCCC Theater with the following amenities:
Box Office
Stage
Dance Floor
AV capabilities
Dressing Areas
Bathrooms
a Bar and
adjunct Commissary.
These amenities will have the intent to create an on-going stream of income to continually bolster the RCCC Fund and to also be available for lease by the Hayward Community at large for that purpose. • (3) Conference/Multi-Purpose Rooms for use as: training centers, conferences and Community and Non-profit rental spaces
• Computer/Tech Center for training and use with a large screen Projection Room,10 CPU Stations with printers, scanners and the current technology for transferring, creating and modifying data • RCCC Child-care Center
•RC Healthcare Clinic - with a primary focus on the identification and treatment of physical and mental maladies that were imparted by the physically and psychologically toxic environments former RC Residents were exposed to.
•Redraft the local legal guidelines of when and how eminent domain can be used in Hayward:
and establish a diverse, term, Community Board to be part of the management plan to prevent a re- occurrence of the Russell City Travesty and provide a well defined scenario of its allowed uses, rationale for invoking it by consensus of governing bodies, public hearings and an objective 3rd party voted in for a 2 year term.