Does this mean that the city of Oakland is racist?
(insidebayarea.com) OAKLAND — Black-owned construction firms are not getting their fair share of city contracts, according to a long-awaited study released Friday by city officials.
In addition, the study of about $244 million worth of city deals between 2002 and 2005, found African-American firms received too few professional services contracts.
However, the study found no disparity in the number of architecture and engineering and goods contracts awarded to black-owned companies.
African-American leaders have long contended their businesses have been discriminated against by city officials, and passed over for lucrative contracts to benefit favored firms.
The study, conducted by Oakland-based Mason Tillman and Associates, also found Asian-owned firms received their fair share of construction, architecture and engineering and goods and other service contracts, but not professional service agreements.
In addition, the study found a disparity in the number of goods and other services contracts awarded to Latino-owned firms, but found they got an adequate number of contracts in other areas.
Although black-owned construction companies make up 20.6 percent of all businesses in Oakland, they won only 7.86 percent of the city’s construction contracts under $500,000.
By comparison, Asian-owned construction firms make up 7.13 percent of the city’s businesses, but won 12.45 percent of the city’s contracts.
[...]
The study also includes interviews with 50 Oakland business owners who reported numerous incidents of discrimination based on their race as well as gender at the hands of city officials. Others said they found it hard to crack the city’s “good old boys” network of favored, mostly white contractors.
[...]
While the data compiled by the study do provide evidence of discrimination, the interviews suggest much more racism in city contracting than proved by the study’s results, said Deborah Lusk-Barnes, the city’s manager of contract compliance and employment services. (more…)
Correct me if I am wrong here, but isn’t the bay area (Oakland/San Francisco) supposed to be the bed of modern Liberalism? And while you are thinking on that one, also keep in mind that San Francisco also has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the state.
The politicians have nothing to fear, for they will continue to be re-elected.
Oakland is indeed changing. This PROGRESSIVE city is also a very expensive city to live in on an increasing clip.
The Bay area is “U” shaped. First the western part of the “U”, San Francisco got built out. Then the bottom, San Jose. For years Oakland’s reputation as being crime ridden prevented an infusion of investment capital.
All that has changed. Nearly 10 years ago when I honeymooned in the Bay Area “Jack London Square” was an island of development in a sea of decay. I went there last year and things have changed. The Asian population has started at the beach front and is expanding their “China Town” through many blocks that were once abandoned. There is a considerable amount of new construction throughout the area.
As with most progressive cities the poor are being squeezed out due to high cost of living and housing prices. The Black population of the city has substantially decreased in recent years. (Don’t quote me but it is down to 34%).
These minority contracts are no longer a shoe in in this city which is rapidly evolving. Lower income Blacks are having to move to Richmond CA and other areas that they can afford.
Comment by Constructive Feeback | May 15, 2007