A disparity study illustrated by Dr. Eleanor Ramsey highlighted the glaring absence of African Americans in the city’s landscape of budgeted allotments for professional services, labor construction and city development.
Black contractors getting little if any more city contracts since new law
Black contractors getting little if any more city contracts since new law
May 7, 2021
Black talent has put Oakland on the map as the center of culture since the 1960s. The city invites its streets and walls to be painted with beautiful murals celebrating Black life – this one is on 15th Street
– but where are the contracts for Black workers? Does the City of Oakland truly support Black life when 70 percent of the contract dollars awarded go to the same 45 big construction groups? When 16.5 percent of all available contractors in Oakland are Black, but they only receive 6.5 percent of small contracts under $50,000 and few if any large contracts? – Photo: @endeavors oakland
Black contractors getting little if any more contracts since new law
By Keith Burbank article
OAKLAND, Calif. - Two and a half months following a new ordinance aimed at improving equity in city contracting, little has changed, a city councilmember admitted Thursday.
City councilmember Loren Taylor said anecdotal evidence suggests improvement, but there are no numbers to back it up. Contractors say they are going to meeting after meeting with city officials and nothing has changed, leaving them frustrated.
The frustration comes after the City Council passed the Local Business Empowerment Through Contracting ordinance in February, and after the city s seemingly reluctant decision to release a study showing racial disparities in contracting in Oakland.