- Simone Braithwaite
- Simone.Braithwaite@asm.ca.gov
(SACRAMENTO, Calif) – “Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1466, Crow-Era, racist language from housing covenants - righting a historic wrong in California.
Racial covenants were used to keep neighborhoods segregated in the early 20th century. While these covenants were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1948, discriminatory language can still be found in housing deeds.
AB 1466 will create a clear process to remove this racist language from housing documents by establishing local programs housed within the county recorder’s office to search for and redact racially restrictive language. In addition, the bill makes it easier for entrepreneurial homeowners to remove restrictive language on their own.
Buying a home is a big accomplishment and no one, especially people of color, should have to find discriminatory language in their deeds. When I bought my first home in my 20’s, I discovered this kind of egregious language and was deeply offended, especially because both my partner and I would not have been allowed to live there if the covenant was still enforced.
Eliminating these racist covenants is a moral right and an important step in bringing racial justice to Californians, and I am proud to see it signed into law today. Thank you to the strong coalition of advocates, organizations and co-authors who supported this bill and helped get this bill to the Governor’s desk.”
- Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento)
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Kevin McCarty represents California’s 7th Assembly District, which include the cities of Sacramento, West Sacramento and unincorporated Sacramento County. McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance.