Illinois city's reparations plan is misguided, divisive and likely unconstitutional

Evanston, Illinois, made history in 2021 by enacting the country’s first race-based reparations plan for past housing discrimination against Black residents. Since the program began, the city has issued about 40 payments each year to qualified residents. Last year**, the city issued** 45. This time around, the number is 44, for a total of about $4 million. Yet regardless of how many checks Evanston sends out, the effect will be, at best, merely symbolic. At worst, it is muddled, confused and likely illegal.