Reparations hearing in San Francisco delayed after City Supervisor can’t get flight home from party vacation in Colombia

According to The San Francisco Standard, Walton had authored the resolution in 2020 for the city to study harm done to the city’s African American community and as a result, a committee was formed and has been working since February 2022.

The board and members of the public were scheduled to discuss the committee’s plan to implement reparations but Walton told The Standard via text that he went to Colombia for a birthday trip with friends. "Our flight was delayed on Copa Airlines, and we couldn’t make the connecting flight. This is not a delay for reparations. The final report is due in June. Most certainly, I have no control over the airlines and flight delays."

He also deleted a picture from his Instagram taken at a Hooters restaurant in Medellín.

Walton’s office told the outlet the personal trip began last Wednesday, and he was scheduled to return in time for Tuesday’s meeting but his flight was canceled. He was set to miss Monday's meeting for the city’s Rules Committee, which Walton is one of three members.

Rev. Amos Brown, one of the 14 people on the African American Reparations Advisory Committee, told The Standard, "I’m stunned."

Additionally, the outlet discovered that the reparations hearing could have happened earlier than next month but was delayed by Walton. In emails obtained by the outlet, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin and Walton's office discussed holding either a regular meeting on February 21 or a special meeting on February 28. Instead, Walton's office suggested waiting until mid-March for the next meeting.

Walton was previously accused of using a racial slur against a black cadet while passing through a security checkpoint at City Hall in July 2022.