Section 14: Healing or Hurting?
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - News Channel 3 is working to get answers on the $5.9 million settlement the City of Palm Springs paid to the Section 14 Survivors Group in October 2025.
Some people say they were left out or they’re disappointed in their settlement.
Gregg Clayton described his reaction to a check he says was just over $5,000, “Total disbelief.”
He’s not alone.
In November 2024, the Palm Springs city council approved the historic settlement.
It’s nearly $6 million, aimed at righting the wrongs of the past for the city's role in removing mostly minority residents from Section 14, an area of Agua Caliente tribal land next to downtown.
Randy and Gwendalyn Crawford, a brother and sister, say they have a brother who received a distribution while they didn't.
Their mother, Cora Crawford, was a pillar of the community who received many proclamations from local leaders for her work in education.
She passed away before the settlement.
The Crawfords say their parents’ lives in Palm Springs started on Section 14.
Randy says, "They were living under that threat constantly.”
He says they left in 1958.
Randy Crawford says he was denied a settlement as a descendant. Gwendalyn Crawford was denied as a survivor because, they say, the Section 14 group believes their parents moved in 1955.
Gwendalyn Crawford’s birth certificate shows she was born in 1958 and her parents lived at 271 Gila Road.
It can't be found on a map today, but a reference to a nearby address on Gila Road can be found in the Section 14 Historical Context Study.
Randy says, “That all proves that my mom was there."
An e-mail string with the Section 14 group also shows acknowledgement of their documents in March 2025 followed by an e-mail in November reading in part, “There was no completed claim for consideration."
Their rejection is just one of their questions.
Founder and President of the Section 14 Survivors group, Pearl Devers, responded to News Channel 3 John White’s question about how many people received distributions and how much those distributions were.
“I'm not going to get into telling you what individuals received.” Devers said.
There are other questions, including how much of the money went to Attorney Areva Martin.
Devers said, “I mean, why is there a need to know as long as they're within their legal bounds?"
Randy Crawford also raises questions about the current makeup of the Section 14 non-profit board and a potential conflict of interest because the daughter of Attorney Areva Martin, Michael Martin, is now on the board.
Devers said, “She did not work for the firm during the settlement.... She came on board after the settlement.”
Devers insists the majority of recipients are happy with their settlements.
"Well, I would say the small number of voices that are speaking out now never participated, never really had a say so until after the process,” Devers said.
Devers is focused now on holding the city accountable for other commitments, including an affordable housing program prioritizing Section 14 families, a public memorial and park, and a Section 14 cultural and racial healing center.
Devers and Martin also provided News Channel 3 with complete statements that you can find here:
Section 14 Attorney Areva Martin Statement on 4/3/26
I wanted to follow up regarding your continued coverage of the Section 14 settlement. As we have explained on multiple occasions, the settlement process was extensive, transparent, and designed to be fair and inclusive. That process, and the fairness of the outcome, is reflected in the materials and statements provided by me and Pearl Devers on numerous occasions.
What is troubling is the continued focus on a small number of disgruntled voices, while the historic nature of this settlement — and the overwhelming number of survivors and families who were grateful, relieved, and supportive — receives little to no attention. This settlement was one of the most significant civil rights resolutions in the region’s history. It was never just about money; it was about restoring dignity, acknowledging harm, beginning a healing process, and creating pathways toward long-term stability, including housing and economic opportunity.
Equally important, the nonprofit formed as part of this process has continued to grow and evolve — reorganizing its board, hiring staff, and actively working with the City on the non-monetary components of the settlement designed to produce lasting change in the desert. Those developments — which represent progress, accountability, and forward movement — deserve coverage as well.
There will always be a few individuals who remain dissatisfied, and they have a right to their voice. But I would hope that your reporting is not driven solely by the loudest or most disgruntled voices, and that equal attention is given to the many survivors who supported the settlement and to the transformative work that is now underway because of it.
Section 14 was a painful chapter in history. The settlement was a step toward justice. What comes next — the rebuilding, the investment, and the opportunity — is the real story now.
I hope future coverage will reflect the full scope of what has been accomplished and what is being built going forward.
Section 14 President/Founder Pearl Devers Statement on 4/3/26
We want to be very clear that the Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors organization has conducted the disbursement process with the highest level of fairness, transparency, and integrity from the very beginning.
Prior to initiating disbursements, we made every effort to ensure that all stakeholders were informed, including the City, survivors and descendants, as well as the media. Our intent has always been to operate openly and responsibly in a process that is both sensitive and historic in nature.
To further ensure neutrality and accountability, we engaged an independent third-party administrator to manage and oversee all disbursements. In addition, the Board took the extra step of bringing on a qualified, independent 30 year retired judge to provide oversight of the process. These decisions were made specifically to ensure fairness, impartiality, and adherence to established guidelines.
In addition, we went above and beyond to accommodate participants by extending deadlines multiple times and providing additional opportunities for individuals to complete the necessary requirements. These extensions were granted in good faith to ensure that no eligible participant was excluded due to timing or access challenges.
While we recognize that there may be individuals who are disappointed with the outcome, the eligibility criteria required documentation to verify residency and consistency of information. In some cases, individuals were unable to meet these requirements, missed established deadlines—even after extensions—or provided information that could not be verified. These standards were applied to ensure fairness to all applicants.
With respect to legal expenses, it is important to note that the attorney fees associated with this matter were below what could have been charged for a case of this complexity and duration. These fees reflect both the scope of the work required and a commitment to ensuring that the maximum possible benefit remained with the survivors and their families.
It is also important to emphasize that the overwhelming response from survivors and descendants has been one of gratitude and appreciation. The number of individuals who have expressed thanks for this long-awaited process far outweighs the relatively small number of concerns raised.
We are confident that the process reflects our commitment to fairness, transparency, and respect for the survivors and descendants we serve.
Previous Section 14 Reports:
