‘Right that wrong’ Palm Springs City Council agrees to take actions regarding Section 14

The Palm Springs City Council held a closed-door session on March 2, 2023, during which they discussed and agreed upon several actions related to addressing the historical injustice of the eviction of residents from Section 14, a neighborhood located in the downtown area of Palm Springs, California. This neighborhood, which existed from the late 1800s until the late 1950s, was home to hundreds of mostly minority families, primarily African American, Mexican American, and Native American.

Section 14, also known as the "Old Las Palmas" or "West Palm Canyon" area, was a thriving community with its own schools, churches, and businesses. However, in the late 1950s, the city of Palm Springs, under pressure from developers and city officials, began a campaign of forced evictions and buyouts, using eminent domain and other tactics to remove residents from their homes and clear the land for redevelopment. The justification for this action was the need to modernize and gentrify the area, but it resulted in the displacement of hundreds of families and the destruction of their homes.

Following years of advocacy and activism by community members and organizations, the Palm Springs City Council agreed to take steps to acknowledge and address this historical injustice. In their statement following the closed-door session, the council announced their intention to:

1. Establish a task force or commission to study the history of Section 14 and make recommendations for reparations and memorialization.

2. Create a memorial or monument to honor the memory of those who were displaced from Section 14 and acknowledge the role of city officials and developers in the forced evictions.

3. Provide resources and support for organizations and initiatives focused on preserving the history of Section 14 and supporting the descendants of those who were displaced.

4. Consider renaming streets or public spaces in the area to reflect the history and contributions of the community that once lived there.

5. Engage in ongoing dialogue and consultation with community members and organizations to ensure that their voices and perspectives are included in the process of acknowledging and addressing this historical injustice.

These actions are significant steps towards acknowledging and addressing the harm caused by the forced evictions of Section 14 and working towards healing and reconciliation within the community. The Palm Springs City Council's commitment to this process is an important step towards righting a historical wrong and ensuring that the history of this community is not forgotten or erased.