Kamala Harris’s $8 Million Point Dume Home Raises Questions About Housing Equity

Former vice president Kamala Harris acquired a 4,000-square-foot residence in the exclusive Point Dume community of Malibu for $8.15 million, according to property reports. The home offers ocean views, multiple wine fridges, private golf greens and parking for five vehicles. Harris lives there with her husband, Doug Emhoff.

New York Post

During her tenure as California attorney general, Harris joined a Supreme Court brief arguing that the Fair Housing Act applies when policies have a “disparate impact” on racial groups, even if the policies are facially neutral. As a presidential candidate she proposed $100 billion in assistance for families in historically redlined neighborhoods, and as vice president she promoted the Biden administration’s efforts to curb racial bias in home appraisals. Earlier commentary noted that Harris has faced scrutiny over her own racial identity, given her Indian and Jamaican heritage and upbringing in predominantly White areas such as Berkeley and Montreal.

New York Post

The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimated that Point Dume was 0.2 % Black and roughly 94 % White as of 2019. The neighborhood’s lack of Black residents stands in contrast to Harris’s public statements about the importance of living among Black communities. The Malibu property, situated entirely within Census tract 8004.08, is part of a seaside enclave that has been accused of limiting beach access for minorities.

New York Post

“When you’re at (a historically Black college or university), and especially one with the size and with the history of Howard University — and also in the context of also being in D.C., which was known forever as being ‘Chocolate City’ — it just becomes about you understanding that there is a whole world of people who are like you,” — Kamala Harris, former vice president — Kamala Harris, former vice president

New York Post