San Francisco's Mayor, Daniel Lurie, is facing intense criticism after discreetly signing into law a highly contentious reparations bill just two days before Christmas. The legislation creates a framework for a fund that could grant eligible Black residents up to $5 million each, a proposal that has deeply divided the city.
A Covert Signing Sparks Public Outcry
The move was made on December 23, with Mayor Lurie approving the bill without fanfare or, according to critics, proper public engagement. The legislation formally establishes a reparations fund based on recommendations from the city's African American Reparations Advisory Committee (AARAC) in its 2023 report. Crucially, the act only sets up the fund's structure and does not currently allocate any city money to it, leaving future contributions to be determined.
Local journalist Erica Sandberg, who first reported the signing on her Substack, described the action as being done "in the dark of night". She told the Daily Mail that the process lacked any meaningful dialogue with San Francisco's diverse population. "This was done covertly. It was not done with the approval of the constituents, San Franciscans were not polled. Nobody was asked," Sandberg stated, adding that it created "resentment and bafflement" rather than unity.
Divisive Reactions and Fiscal Realities
The backlash has been swift and comes from across the political spectrum. Sandberg argued that the city's large immigrant population should not be held financially responsible for historical injustices. "The idea that people who have just come here would be on the hook for somebody else's past issues is absurd," she said.
Even the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP has expressed reservations, having previously opposed the city's handling of the reparations plan. While supporting cash payments in principle, the group called the $5 million lump sum an "arbitrary number" that raised false hopes.
Adding to the controversy, Mayor Lurie himself has admitted the city lacks the finances for the fund. San Francisco is bracing for a $1 billion budget deficit next year. In a statement, Lurie acknowledged the fiscal challenge, saying, "Given these historic fiscal challenges, the city does not have resources to allocate to this fund." He defended his signing as recognising the work of community advocates and the unanimous support of the Board of Supervisors.
A Blow to a Centrist Image
The covert signing deals a significant blow to Mayor Lurie's political image. Elected in January 2025, he promised a "common-sense, centrist" approach to governance after years of political turmoil in the city. Critics like Sandberg believe this "sneaky reparations scheme" undermines that pledge entirely.
Conservative activist Richie Greenberg lambasted the fund on social media platform X, calling it a "terribly disappointing decision." On his podcast, he went further, declaring the entire "reparations scheme" to be "ludicrously unlawful, irresponsible, illegal [and] unconstitutional."
The core grievance for many remains the perceived lack of transparency. "The issue here is the lack of communication. There was none. That's offensive. That is profoundly, profoundly offensive to everybody here," Sandberg concluded, questioning what the city ultimately stands to gain from the divisive move.
