California Governor Gavin Newsom hands back LA beachfront land worth $72 million to descendants of black family it was seized from almost 100 years ago - and they're now free to develop it as they wish
California Governor Gavin Newsom has returned prime beachfront land worth an estimated $72 million to the descendants of a black family it was seized from in 1924.
Newsom signed a law transferring the ownership of Bruce's Beach, a small park now worth an estimated $72 million, back to the Bruce family. Original owners Willa and Charles Bruce's great-great-grandson Anthony Bruce was there for the signing ceremony.
He will now take ownership of the plot, alongside his dad Derrick and brother Michael.
The plot currently serves as a grassy park and lifeguard training facility. The Bruces have the option to sell it, lease it back to the local authority for the market rate, or develop it as they wish, with the land parcel exempt from local zoning laws. Average property prices in Manhattan Beach run to $2.9 million, with the area sitting south of Santa Monica Bay.
Gavin Newsom is seen on Thursday handing over the pen with which he signed the new law to Anthony Bruce (far right), whose great-great-grandparents had once owned Bruce's Beach
The land, in Manhattan Beach, was bought by Willa and Charles Bruce in 1912 for $1,225 and taken from them by the local council in 1924, following Ku Klux Klan protests against the thriving beach resort operating on the site.
For decades the family campaigned to have it returned to them, and in April the city council agreed to hand the land back.
They will be able to do what they wish with the plot, and are exempt from zoning laws that require beachfront property in the city to be 'used for public recreation and beach purposes in perpetuity.'
On Thursday Newsom signed into law legislation unanimously approved by state politicians earlier this month, and rebuked the local council for failing to apologize for the seizure of the land.
Anthony Bruce, the great great grandson of Willa and Charles Bruce is all smiles as Governor Gavin Newsom signs SB 796, a bill to return Manhattan Beach land to descendants of its original owners
Willa and Charles Bruce brought the property in 1912 during the early 20th century after moving from New Mexico with their son Harvey
The Los Angeles beachfront property 'Bruce's Beach's is being returned to the descendants of resort owners after it was taken from them due to racist policies
The city of Manhattan Beach issued a statement acknowledging and condemning its city's actions from the early 20th century - but the statement stopped short of a formal apology.
'We offer this Acknowledgement and Condemnation as a foundational act for Manhattan Beach's next one hundred years,' a document approved by the council says.
'And the actions we will take together, to the best of our abilities, in deeds and in words, to reject prejudice and hate and promote respect and inclusion.'
Newsom shared his anger at that earlier statement Thursday, and told the crowd: 'As governor of California, let me do what apparently Manhattan Beach is unwilling to do: I want to apologize to the Bruce family.'
He signed the bill before dozens of cameras and handed the pen to Anthony Bruce, whose great-great-grandparents had once owned the land.
'I really believe this can be catalytic,' Newsom said.
Newsom on Thursday apologized for the generations of harm done to the Bruce family
Anthony Bruce is seen in an old photo by the sign declaring the name Bruce's Beach
Derrick Bruce, the great-grandson of the original Bruce Beach owners (second from left) and his sons Anthony (right) and Michael (left) will take ownership of the Manhattan Beach property after Newsom signed the legislation
'What we're doing here today can be done and replicated anywhere else. There's an old adage: Once a mind is stretched, it never goes back to its original form.'
Anthony Bruce, a security supervisor who lives in Florida, said his family had been tormented by the seizure of their rightful property for generations.
Charles and Willa contested the eminent domain order and lost; the city paid them $14,500, and they left their beach and lost their business.
Instead of continuing to run a thriving resort on prime beachfront land, they ended up as chefs serving other business owners for the remainder of their lives.
Bruce's grandfather Bernard, born a few years after his family had been run out of town, was obsessed with what happened and lived his life 'extremely angry at the world,' he said.
Bruce's father was unable to bear living in California and moved away from the state.
'I was five years old when my father told me that my great-great-grandparents' business on a beautiful stretch of Manhattan Beach had been taken away from them decades earlier,' wrote Bruce, in an op ed in The Los Angeles Times, published on Thursday.
'It was a shocking and disturbing revelation for me as a young boy.'
Michael Bruce (pictured left) and his brother Anthony (pictured right) are the great-great grandchildren of Willa and Charles Bruce, who stand to finally inherit their family's property after it was taken via eminent domain in 1924 www.youtubr.com/@Real_Estate_Talk_NY
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