Establish equitable city contracting policies
Mayor Martin J. Walsh
On Friday, February 5, 2021, GBH News and the Boston Globe shared the results of a yet-to-be-released disparity study, which was commissioned by the City of Boston in 2018. The results are disturbing, however unsurprising.
The study reveals what BECMA members and community leaders have been saying for decades: The City of Boston does not value Black businesses or the Black community. The 703-page report lays out in stark detail that despite the pronouncements, public statements, executive orders, and policies, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and his administration have failed to deliver fair and equitable procurement for Black-owned businesses, as well as for other minority- and women-owned businesses. Bold leadership is required to immediately correct this systemic problem.
According to the Boston Globe, the study analyzed over 47,000 contracts awarded by the City over a five-year period (2014 - 2019) worth over $2.1 billion. Of those contracts, 11% were awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses. Only 0.4% -- or $9.4 million -- reached Black businesses. This puts Boston, which only recently committed itself to defeating racism, far below its counterparts in public spending with minority- and women-owned businesses like New York City (19%), Chicago (29%), and Philadelphia (31%).
We must urgently address this issue. We know that public contracts are key to stabilizing small businesses and helping them scale so they can hire more people at better wages with more comprehensive benefits. Every public dollar spent must be an investment in our collective future.
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To:
Mayor Martin J. Walsh
From:
[Your Name]
Mayor Walsh,
Last week, I read about the results of the city's disparity study, which you commissioned in 2018. I found the results alarming. What I read made it clear that despite all of the talk you have given over the years, you and your administration have failed to deliver fair and equitable procurement for Black- and other minority-owned businesses. I believe the time is now for bold leadership in addressing this long-standing issue.
I was appalled to read that out of $2.1 billion in contracts over a five-year period, only $9.4 million reached Black businesses and $238 million was awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses overall. This does not reflect my values or my vision for a city committed to equitable access to opportunities for all. That's why I support BECMA's demands for the city to:
- Immediately set spending goals of 15% for Black-owned businesses and a combined 40% for women- and minority-owned businesses.
- Immediately enact policy tying performance evaluations, compensation, bonuses, and future employment for all cabinet-level positions, department heads, procurement officers, and other staff across citywide departments to achieving equity and diversity goals.
- Immediately direct all City departments and quasi-city agencies to unbundle large contracts that are set to become available in 2021 and beyond.
- Immediately make the Equity and Inclusion Unit an independent entity with strong enforcement and oversight powers and a full staff that allows the monitoring of all projects across the city and spending across all departments, including quasi-city agencies.
I believe that swift action in following through on these demands will set our city in a better direction. I urge you to immediately address this issue.