Members of the Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to enter into mediation with the family of Silas White, a Black businessman whose land was seized by the city almost 70 years ago.
Milana Davis, White’s niece, told KNX News’ Karen Adams that this is a “great step forward,” and that she hopes the city will mediate in good faith.
“We're just excited that the council voted so enthusiastically and unanimously that the city should mediate with the family,” she said.
In 1957, the city took White's property at Pico and Ocean through eminent domain, ending his plans of building the Ebony Beach Club for the black community.
“And he fought because he knew that that wasn't the reason,” Davis explained. “He put signs up to state that it was being these, and it was racial discrimination because his vision for what he wanted to use that property for did not fit, I guess, the vision of the Santa Monica City Council of that time.”
She added that Tuesday night’s vote doesn't erase the harm done to White and his family, including his daughter Connie.
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“ It doesn't, it can't, never will,” she said. “But they can stop the continuation of the harm that has been inflicted on Connie to this point by having to continually relive that moment in time that was so extremely painful for her family.”
Davis also pointed to the group “Where's My Land,” for their hard work to help expose these wrongs.
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