Playing in traffic
PHOTO BY WENDI FITZGERALD
On July 12, 1999 — 10 years ago to the day, yesterday — between 200 and 300 activists, most of them African-American, some of them prominent leaders, staged a brief shutdown of Interstate 70 at Goodfellow Avenue.
Now another shutdown has been threatened, for today, on the eve of Major League Baseball’s All-Star game. Such a move might be seriously counterproductive.
The issue is the same today as it was 10 years ago: state contracting practices on transportation projects, which long had discriminated against minority contractors and women-owned businesses. The 1999 shutdown was planned carefully and choreographed closely. Police were at the ready and made 125 arrests.
There was some grandstanding. The Rev. Al Sharpton blew into town and did what he does. But there was no resistance or angry words. The highway was back to normal within about an hour.
Over the next several weeks, talks began on how to improve the public contracting system to provide more opportunity for qualified contractors — and how to hold government agencies accountable to make progress. Then-Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan participated.
As talks dragged on, a second shutdown was threatened. Some protesters abandoned the moral high ground to angle, unsuccessfully, for a $1.8 million contract to do minority “outreach.”
But serious political, community and labor leaders stayed at the table and reached a settlement. Among its fruits was creation of the Construction Prep Center, which provides training to adults interested in working in construction trades, and the Construction Career Center, a charter high school that helps to prepare students for a full range of careers in building arts and professions.
Last week, a small but vocal group of African-American contractors and activists made vague threats to commemorate the 1999 shutdown just in time to embarrass the city before the All-Star game.
Their grievance is drawn from data recently released by Missouri’s and Illinois’ departments of transportation. The reports show significant disparity in the number of contracts awarded to white-owned businesses and those given to women and minority contractors.
Both minority-owned and women-owned businesses are classified under federal law as “disadvantaged business enterprises.” Recent reports from both departments of transportation clearly show that disparity remains, particularly in the number of contracts awarded to minority contractors.
The issue is serious, especially given that more than $600 million in contracts will be let for the pending Mississippi River bridge project. The numbers make it clear: Minority contractors still haven’t achieved a full measure of fairness.
But it’s important to note the current disparities were revealed by the transportation departments themselves, as part of their efforts at accountability. They held public hearings last week announcing that they would ask the Federal Highway Administration to allow them to focus on minority contractors separately, while continuing efforts to involve more women-owned firms.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has an impressive record in promoting disadvantaged business enterprises, having vigorously and successfully defended its ambitious program in a lengthy federal court action. The Missouri Department of Transportation has a respected manager overseeing its civil rights division. Now would be a good time for top department leaders and the governors of both states to reaffirm their commitments.
Ten years is a long time to be patient, but another highway shutdown would be a foolish stunt that could set back sincere efforts to do the right thing.
Well, I’m sure you know much about white republican country clubs. Most unions members are cleaning the club house toilets or cutting the manicured greens.
I stated the numbers are available through the DOL.
One difficulty with minority participation in construction is perception.
Construction work is assumed to be a better alternative than joining the Army for the least educated. That’s a wrong perception. When half the students in the St. Louis Public School system can’t graduate, why do so many assume they can complete a math intensive 4 year apprenticeship program?
The best high school students are consumed by universities and professional employers trying to balance their own selection procedures. The other barrier with minority participation in construction is retention. Every apprenticeship program maintains an Affirmative Action program and recruitment policy. The number of minority apprentices selected compared to those who complete is never reported. Believe me, it’s dismal…
If SLU Medical School placed 100 minorites and only 10% complete…does this make SLU Med discriminatory?
Or, would like like to see all students pass regardless of ability and qualifications?
I wouldn’t want an incompetent doctor cutting on me…and you should want an incompetent electrician wiring your home.
Like I said…if you and other republicans are sincere about minorities being fairly represented in unions…support EFCA.
When have Republicans ever concerned themselves with workers…much less minoritiy workers?
SoCo…It’s the scab rat employers who want to know how you vote.
Sometimes even before you vote.
If 30% of the workers want a secret ballot it must be provided.
What’s more democratic?
Obviously you prefer having the employer hold back the NLRB secret ballot for 2 years before the workers can vote. Just enough time to find the union organizers and sit-can them as an example to the rest of the “no-voice in the workplace” peasants.
Ya…you’re all for the democratic process. You and Homer Simpson.
PS..you don’t have to look over my shoulder when I vote.
Just look at the Obama sticker on my American made car.
Garrison,
I think the UAW has a country club that would rival most of the “white republican” country clubs. I wonder how cleans the johns at this place.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,472304,00.html
I guess all those union dues have to go somewhere if they can’t go to candidates.
Garrison,
BTW, look further into that car and you’ll see it’s not 100% American made. I’ll be the sticker wasn’t even made here.
It was a rhetorical question Union Brain. We all know if Satan himself were on the Dem ticket you would very dutifully pull the Dem lever no matter what. What I find so humorus is your vile hatred for “the evil rich republicans” who are the very ones you come to looking for employment. You hate business on so many levels yet you can understand why they aren’t hiring. Let’s re-cap - Unions and the Auto Industry, Unions and Manufactoring ($10 - $$15 an hour jobs weren’t good enough they all had to be $25 - $30 per hour.) , Unions and Public Edducation. (Impossible to fire or remove ANY teacher without years and years of legal actions - Even for child molestors. With OSHA and The NLRB there’s no longer a need for Unions other than to vote for Dems and Extort Businesses. It must be just Hollywood that links the Mob to Unions.
Here’s the crux of the entire article: “The reports show significant disparity in the number of contracts awarded to white-owned businesses and those given to women and minority contractors.” The key words are “AWARDED” vs “GIVEN” - contracts AWARDED would indicate that the firm had the lowest, best bid to receive our tax dollars in return for providing a service. The term “GIVEN” tells me that some firms that do NOT qualify as the lowest or best are still GIVEN MY TAX DOLLARS to perform sub-standard work at a higher cost. Does that make sense to anyone? Why spend more tax money for inferior work?
EPT50 - EXACTLY. Can anyone say Metrolink Expansion. That came in under budget didn’t it? NOT!!!
I’ve been in the electrical contracting business for 18 years. I must be the only successful businessman who hates business and appreciates unions.
Some of the profits made by the purchase of my American produced GMC trucks will find their way to Wentzville where I have sub-contracts to perform electrical work…Try taking some classes.
Where do the profits from your Asian Hyundia go?
Oh, they help buy chains to secure 12 year old girls to Asian sewing machines for 16 hours a day.
Who needs unions when we have the Bush appointed NLRB?
Let’s give more Bush tax-breaks for American companies who hire 12 year old Asian girls….Screw those labor unions. They’re un-American. What these country needs is a few more “rat” employers who hire illegal immigrants.
Garrison - NO BODY CARES. Typical. Who said anything about Hyundia? My last two vehicles were new Chevy’s built on American soil. Oh … and who gave you NAFTA? Don’t you just hate that?
Nick,
I knew we would one day agree on something. (lol).