HomeMy WebLinkAbout24957RESOLUTION NO. 24957
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, FORMALLY APOLOGIZING
FOR ITS ROLE IN THE DESTRUCTION OF SECTION 14
WHEREAS, from 1930 to 1965, many working-class Black, Indigenous and
people of color lived and built homes on a square mile of land owned by members of the
Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, known as Section 14, in downtown Palm
Springs. This was the primary residential area for Black, Indigenous and people of color
in Palm Springs. This community was diverse, rich in tradition and proud of its unique
cultural identities; and
WHEREAS, in 1959 when Indian land became available for long-term leases,
commercial development of the land became possible. By 1964, the City of Palm
Springs began executing a plan to demolish all existing property on Section 14; and
WHEREAS, the City encouraged conservators for Indians owning the land to
terminate the leases or rentals of the land. Many of the conservators were local judges
and attorneys; some city officials were conservators themselves. The City, using public
funds, cleared the land. Homes and personal belongings owned by the inhabitants were
destroyed and burned by the City, often ignoring required notice provisions. Up to 1,000
residents were displaced and the community was destroyed. The California Attorney
General found, "evidence of unusual cooperation between developers, the Indian
conservators, and the City of Palm Springs, in the demolition of Section 14”; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs kept no official records of the persons
displaced and the residences destroyed in Section 14 and there is no record of any
attempt at determining that each homeowner and resident had been properly served
with eviction notices; and
WHEREAS, accompanying the destruction of homes in Section 14 was the
continuing disregard for relocation of these residents. Due to racial covenants in Palm
Springs, many Black residents moved to Beaumont or Banning. Other Black residents
moved north to buy land then outside city limits where they built mid-century homes in a
formerly defunct housing tract resulting in de facto racial segregation; and
WHEREAS, in 1968, the Attorney General found the City of Palm Springs not
only disregarded the residents of Section 14 as property-owners, taxpayers, and voters;
Palm Springs ignored that the residents of Section 14 were human beings. We
recognize, acknowledge, and accept the 1968 Department of Justice Attorney General’s
report, “Palm Springs, Section 14 Demolition.” The report charges homes belonging to
minority residents of Section 14 “were destroyed by a city-engineered holocaust”; and
WHEREAS, while the harm caused by the Section 14 removal cannot be erased,
we lift up and acknowledge those connected to this land, and we acknowledge the
impact the City’s actions have had; and
Resolution No. 24957
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WHEREAS, today, individuals and families who endured forced removals and
clearances are still impacted by a legacy of racism, separation and lack of resources.
Before healing can begin for families and desc endants of those removed from Section
14, the City must acknowledge the hurt in our history of urban renewal and the impact
inflicted on Palm Springs’ Black, Indigenous and People of Color; and
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that we, the undersigned membe rs of the
Palm Springs City Council recognize that Black, Indigenous, People of Color and other
working class residents’ homes and property were destroyed by the razing of Section
14; and regret the tremendous harm caused and mourn the lost sense of community
lose of generational wealth, damage to community institutions, and ongoing exclusion
caused by the demolition of this neighborhood; be it further
RESOLVED, we do hereby formally apologize for the City government’s role in
the destruction of homes and community on Section 14, and affirm that the lessons
learned from the City’s actions will forever be remembered and not repeated and will be
addressed by the Palm Springs City Council. We further commit to advance racial and
social equity, diversity, inclusion, and fairness and to work to address and undo
systemic racism and its continuing impacts; be it further
RESOLVED, the Palm Springs City Council will bring specific actions to address
systemic racism and advance social justice.
ADOPTED THIS 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2021.
Christy Holstege, Mayor
Lisa Middleton, Mayor Pro Tem Geoff Kors, Council Member
Grace Garner, Council Member Dennis Woods, Council Member
Resolution No. 24957
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CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, ANTHONY J. MEJIA, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 24957 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on September 29, 2021, by the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Garner, Kors, Woods, Mayor Pro Tem Middleton, and
Mayor Holstege
RECUSED: None
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ANTHONY J. MEJIA, MMC
CITY CLERK