San Francisco Sued Over Controversial Reparations Plan

Taxpayers challenge city's plan to pay $5 million to eligible Black residents.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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Two San Francisco taxpayers, including activist Richie Greenberg and resident Arthur Ritchie, have filed a lawsuit against the city over its controversial reparations plan that would provide cash payments and other benefits to eligible Black residents. The plaintiffs argue the plan is unconstitutional and amounts to a "racial spoils system." San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie quietly signed the reparations bill in December, but admitted the city is too broke to fund it.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights the ongoing debate over reparations for the descendants of enslaved people, with critics arguing the San Francisco plan is an unconstitutional form of racial discrimination, while advocates say it's necessary to repair past harms suffered by the Black community.

The details

The reparations plan, introduced by Supervisor Shamann Walton, would create a city-run fund that can accept private donations and public money for benefits such as $5 million cash payouts to eligible Black residents, debt forgiveness, 250 years of tax abatements, and income subsidies. However, Mayor Lurie acknowledged the city is facing a budget deficit and cannot currently fund the plan.

  • In December 2025, Mayor Daniel Lurie quietly signed the reparations plan into law.
  • The lawsuit was filed on February 5, 2026 in San Francisco Superior Court.

The players

Richie Greenberg

A San Francisco activist and one of the plaintiffs suing the city over the reparations plan.

Arthur Ritchie

A San Francisco resident and one of the plaintiffs suing the city over the reparations plan.

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco who quietly signed the reparations plan into law in December 2025, despite admitting the city cannot afford to fund it.

Shamann Walton

The San Francisco Supervisor who introduced the reparations plan legislation.

Californians for Equal Rights Foundation

An organization that is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against San Francisco's reparations plan.

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What they’re saying

“Though presented as a response to slavery, San Francisco's plan will impose sweeping racial classifications on present-day residents who neither endured enslavement nor inflicted it.”

— Richie Greenberg and Arthur Ritchie, Plaintiffs (Lawsuit complaint)

“Once we are served, we will review the complaint and respond in court.”

— Jen Kwart, Spokesperson for San Francisco City Attorney (nypost.com)

“They have put rhetoric and ideology ahead of the city's residents.”

— Richie Greenberg (nypost.com)

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed and potentially block the implementation of San Francisco's reparations plan.

The takeaway

The lawsuit against San Francisco's reparations plan highlights the ongoing national debate over the merits and legality of such programs, with critics arguing they amount to unconstitutional racial discrimination and supporters saying they are necessary to address historical harms.