Evanston Reparations Program Passes $5 Million As City Fights Suit From Conservative Group

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EVANSTON, IL — Evanston’s groundbreaking local reparations program has distributed more than $5 million to about 200 eligible recipients, city staff announced. The milestone comes as the city asks the federal judge to toss out a lawsuit filed earlier this year by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal nonprofit that alleges the program is unconstitutional. Established to address decades of discriminatory housing practices, and funded by a mix of cannabis and real estate transfer tax revenue, Evanston’s first-of-its kind municipal reparations program provides payments of up to $25,000 for home improvement, mortgage assistance or as a direct cash benefit. Find out what’s happening in Evanstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch. “This has become part of our lives, like it’s almost routine for us now, and how special that our whole city has embraced it in the way that it has,” Reparations Committee Chair Robin Rue Simmons said at this month’s meeting. “But it’s still a very big deal,” she said. “It’s still unique in this nation, unfortunately.” Find out what’s happening in Evanstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch. Evanston city officials hosted a dinner on April 25, 2025, at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center to recognize the first group of...

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