In a stride toward addressing past racial injustices, the Santa Monica City Council has taken a notable step by authorizing city staff to begin mediation with the descendants of Silas White over the Ebony Beach Club — a project halted by eminent domain in the late 1950s. According to information released by the city presented on Tuesday, the staff has been directed to research the history of the property and come back with more concrete information regarding the claim brought forward by the White family in March 2024.
The dispute revolves around land currently employed as an access road near the Viceroy Hotel, which was where White had envisioned establishing the Ebony Beach Club. The storied plans were thwarted when the city repurposed the land for its use. The case has since simmered in a stew of historical claims and present-day legal considerations, with the city now deciding to possibly extend reparations in some form. Seeking to potentially correct historical wrongs, the council's approval to enter into mediation with the White family represents acknowledgment of a need to openly address past discriminatory practices.
Underpinning this is the city’s ongoing focus on reparative justice, backed by the work of the Santa Monica Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Team and the Landback and Reparations Task Force. These groups are dedicated "to addressing the historical and ongoing harms faced by communities who have experienced systemic loss of land, housing and opportunity," as a city report outlines. The thrust of the task force aligns with similar movements nationwide to rectify historic racial injustices, particularly those impacted by government actions.
The decision to move forward with mediation is grounded in both a recognition of possible historical wrongs and a present-day impetus to act. The staff recommendation was followed by council approval, underscoring a city-led initiative that seeks to not just acknowledge but also provide redress where due. Details on the history of the Ebony Beach Club and White's involvement can be found in the city research outline available here. As the mediation process gets underway, further developments are expected to bring more clarity and possibly closure to a long-standing issue that goes to the heart of the tension between progress and historical equity.
Public Information Officer Tati Simonian is available for contact on more information regarding the case, and the full staff report and details of the council meeting may be watched here.
