"The mediation that led to settling a claim filed by White's family was finalized in October. On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved in closed session a $350,000 settlement for the family of Silas White, a Black businessman who leased a building on Ocean Avenue with the intention of buying it to open an exclusively Black hotel and beach club. Instead, the city took the property under the guise of building an auditorium nearby."
"I hate to say this but the city of Santa Monica took a series of actions to deprive Black Americans of the opportunity of being in Santa Monica. Our history books show that systemic racism, oppression and discrimination happened," Toris said. "We as a council made a decision, that despite the fact we're facing a very challenging financial time, we want to dedicate funding because [ a formal apology to the Black community] is great, but unless it comes with money and needful repair, it's just an empty word."
Santa Monica approved a $350,000 settlement to the family of Silas White after acknowledging the city unfairly seized his leased Ocean Avenue property under eminent domain during the segregated 1950s. Silas White planned to open the Ebony Beach Club, an exclusively Black hotel and beach club at 1811 Ocean Ave, but the city took the property, citing plans for a nearby auditorium. The mediation resolving the family's claim was finalized in October and the City Council unanimously approved the settlement in closed session. Councilmember Caroline Toris said the city recognizes systemic racism and intends reparations to include funding beyond a formal apology. The site had been empty for 13 years prior to White's plan.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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