Historic Context Statement: Suburbanization and Race
City Council Meeting – November 15, 2022
• Part of a larger citywide racial equity and reconciliation initiative in recognition of the history of racism in Long Beach and its impact on local residents. • The effects of redlining and other discriminatory practices are still present today • This Historic Context should influence future land use policies and zoning regulations.
Overview
2 • Historic context focused on the connection of the built environment and housing restrictions and the fight for fair housing in Long Beach between 1945 – 1979 • Includes history of development, suburbanization and expansion in the City • Includes an historical overview of the diverse communities in Long Beach • Supplements the Citywide Historic Context
• Included related community outreach effort
Project Scope
3 • Narrative Overview
o Discriminatory Practices of the Early 20th Century
o Segregation and Discrimination in Long Beach between
1941 – 1959
o Civil Rights and Integration between 1960 – 1975
o North Long Beach Transformed between 1976 – 1979
o Racial and Ethnic Groups of Long Beach
• List of properties and neighborhoods identified
through research and by the community
• Bibliography of sources for future researchers
Historic Context Statement: Suburbanization and Race
4 Overview: Racial and Ethnic Groups in Long Beach
• African Americans
• Latina/o Community
• Japanese Americans
• Chinese Americans
• Filipino Americans
• Korean Americans
• Samoan Americans
• Vietnamese Americans
• Guamanian and Chamorro Americans
• Cambodian Americans
• Laotian and Hmong Americans
5 • Alien Land Laws
• Restrictive covenants (deed restrictions)
• Segregation
• Redlining
o New deal housing institutions:
• Home Owners Loan Corp.
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
o FHA rated neighborhoods as “security risks”
o Denied mortgages based on race and ethnicity
o Contributor to the legalization and institutionalization of racism and segregation
Discriminatory Practices of the Early 20th Century (1900-1944) 6 1939 Redlining Map
7 1950 Census Tract Map
8 1960 Census Tract Map
9 • Patterns of institutionalized segregation were well established • Pre-1964, only eight African American families lived in non- integrated neighborhoods
• Blockbusting: realtors refer non-white home buyers to Westside neighborhoods and encourage panic selling by
whites
• “For Rent” signs: landlords tell prospective renters of color that the unit has already been rented
• World War II-era housing projects were segregated
• Truman Boyd Manor
• Lexington Defense Housing
• Cabrillo Homes War Emergency Housing Complex
Segregation and Discrimination in Long Beach (1945-1964) 10 • Fair Housing Act, 1963
• Proposition 14, 1964
• Fair Housing Foundation (FHF)
o Initially founded to fight
Proposition 14
• Westside Neighbors Association
Integration in Long Beach (1964-1976)
11 • Lawyer advocates and activist clergy
• Unique practices
o Double escrow
o Checkers
o Lawsuits
• Placement of seven African American
families by February 1964
• Placement of 1,500 African American
families by July 1976
• Model for other fair housing
organizations throughout California
and the country
Long Beach Fair Housing Foundation
12 • Fair Housing Foundation
Office
• Residence associated with
the Thomas E. and Enako
Allen v. Paul and Blanche
Staub case
• Westside home of Ann
Trumbore
• Dr. Charles Terry
Residence
Fight for Fair Housing: Associated Properties
13 Recommendation
Recommendation to receive and file presentation on the
Race and Suburbanization Historic Context Statement.
(Citywide)
14 Thank you
Christopher Koontz, AICP
Director
Development Services Department
[email protected]
15