Evanston, Illinois, has become the first US city to approve reparations for Black Americans. On Monday, Evanston’s City Council voted 8-1 to approve local reparations in the hopes of compensating residents who’d suffered from the city’s housing discrimination laws. That includes Black Americans who a) lived in the city from 1919 to 1969 (before the city passed a fair housing law), b) their descendants, and c) anyone who can prove they faced housing discrimination because of city policies. People who qualify could receive up to $25,000 each in housing grants for things like repairs or property down payments. Right now, the city only has $400,000 to distribute, using tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales. It’s hoping to bump that figure up to $10 million over the next 10 years.
A national debate over gun control. Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a pre-scheduled hearing on gun control. The result: Even after two deadly shootings, Democrats and Republicans are still split on the issue. Dems are urging the Senate to pass legislation. But Republicans say proposed gun control laws on things like background checks wouldn’t solve the issue – and would impede on their Second Amendment rights. Right now, the two House bills don’t have the 60 votes needed to pass in the Senate.
What could be giving a new meaning to ‘snail mail’. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced a 10-year plan to overhaul the agency. In it: longer delivery times for some first-class mail, shorter post office hours in certain areas, and pricier postal rates. Some are concerned about the slower delivery times – especially when many Americans rely on the agency for prescriptions.