The town of Amherst, Massachusetts is considering how and when to spend revenue on reparations for slavery. Two years ago, the college town established a reparations fund that will grow to $2 million over a decade as cannabis sales taxes come in, and then sustainably spend up to $100,000 a year to atone for how the town benefitted from slavery. Now Amherst’s African Heritage Reparation Assembly is recommending spending it on youth programs, housing and businesses to benefit Black residents. The council was scheduled to meet Monday night to also consider speeding up the spending, perhaps by dipping into the town’s reserves.
The town of Amherst, Massachusetts is considering how and when to spend revenue on reparations for slavery. Two years ago, the college town established a reparations fund that will grow to $2 million over a decade as cannabis sales taxes come in, and then sustainably spend up to $100,000 a year to atone for how the town benefitted from slavery. Now Amherst’s African Heritage Reparation Assembly is recommending spending it on youth programs, housing and businesses to benefit Black residents. The council was scheduled to meet Monday night to also consider speeding up the spending, perhaps by dipping into the town’s reserves. Read More