Santa Monica pays $350,000 settlement to family of black entrepreneur decades after unlawful seizure

The city of Santa Monica has agreed to a $350,000 settlement with the descendants of a black entrepreneur whose plans to open a black beach club were derailed when his land was wrongfully seized in the 1950s.

On November 18, the Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously approved a $350,000 behind-closed-doors settlement for the family of Silas White, a black businessman who leased a building on Ocean Avenue with plans to open an exclusive black hotel and beach club, the LA times reports. Instead, the city seized the property, claiming it needed the land to build a nearby auditorium.

The settlement follows a month of mediation that resolved a claim by White’s family. According to Mayor Pro Tempore Caroline Torosis, it is part of the city’s broader efforts to provide meaningful reparations to Black residents affected by past racial injustice.

“I hate to say this, but the city of Santa Monica has taken a series of actions to deprive Black Americans of the opportunity to stay in Santa Monica. Our history books show that systemic racism, oppression and discrimination occurred,” Torosis said.

“We as a council have decided that, despite the fact that we are in very challenging financial times, we want to release funding because [a formal apology to the Black community] is great, but unless there is money and meaningful repairs involved, it’s just an empty word.”

The settlement comes more than a year after White’s family first revealed how the city overturned Silas White’s plans to build the Ebony Beach Club at 1811 Ocean Ave. in the segregated 1950s. to open, thwarted. Registered as a non-profit organization, the club was scheduled to open on October 15, 1958, as advertised on signs outside the building.

However, court documents show the city intervened, claiming the land was needed for the nearby Santa Monica Civic Auditorium project. The property faced a condemnation complaint, or eminent domain, which allowed the city to seize private land for public use.

“I’m not doing this because of money,” Constance White said inside an Instagram video from 2024. “I’m doing this for justice and for the future of all people. It’s not just my business. As you research, there are thousands of people who this has happened to.”

White’s planned club would have stood on what is now Vicente Terrace, a public street next to the luxurious Viceroy Hotel. The city notes that about 5% of the hotel’s land was once leased by White.

As part of the settlement, Torosis announced that part of Vicente Terrace will be renamed Silas White Street, and that an exhibit in White’s honor will be created at the city’s main library, with his family contributing materials. Silas White Day is officially celebrated on October 12.