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Dean-backed nondiscrimination bill passes
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 1:18am
The Metro government non-discrimination bill — the first key piece of legislation supported by first-year Mayor Karl Dean — was passed into law by Metro Council at its meeting on Tuesday.
The bill amends Metro Code to establish a procurement non-discrimination program within Metro, which aims to give minority- and women-owned businesses an equal opportunity to secure contracts on Metro projects.
The bill was on its second try before Dean showed his support quickly after being elected last fall.
Dean appointed an advisory council last October to identify initiatives Metro could take to help minority- and women-owned businesses receive a fair share of Metro contracts.
A 2005 disparity study said Metro was “becoming a passive participant in discrimination” by not sharing its contracts fairly. Also as part of the initiative, Dean moved Michelle Lane, director of Metro’s Disadvantaged, Minority and Small Business Assistance program, into the mayor’s office to have her working closely with the administration on all initiatives related the bill.
The bill sets up the Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (OMBA), which will certify and maintain a database of all minority- and women-owned businesses in Metro. The OMBA will serve as a watchdog office and will fall under the Finance Department, which said it does not need to hire additional employees to do so.
“I think the mayor was really pro-active in saying, ‘We don’t need to study this any more, we actually need to take some action,’” At-large Councilwoman Megan Barry said. “I think it speaks really well to how he works with the Council to bring this forward.”
An amendment to the resolution was passed that allows major Metro contracts to be unbundled so small businesses could bid on portions of the contract and not be out-bid by larger companies.
A memorializing resolution was also passed calling on the Metro departments not explicitly covered by the bill to participate. Those departments were the Metro Development and Housing Agency, Nashville Electric Service, Metro Transit Authority, the Sports Authority and the Airport Authority.
Barry said proposed new $635 million Convention Center will serve as a benchmark for whether MDHA and other Metro departments are living up to their end of the bargain on the bill.
“Those individuals who might have felt like they weren’t invited to the party now have a shot,” Barry said.
Preds lease amendment vote deferred
The Council officially deferred a vote on the amendments to the Sommet Center lease agreement between Metro and the new Nashville Predators’ ownership group.
The Budget and Finance committee had already voted to defer until its next meeting.
A special meeting on the lease amendments will take place April 8 and Council will possibly be able to vote on the matter at its April 16 meeting.
Happy Birthday Metro Government
Tuesday marked the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Nashville’s Metro government, which took place April 1, 1963.
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Filed under: City News
Does this newly passed legislation (enforcing a policy of non-discrimination) have jurisdiction over the "truck driver training" school in Leoma TN? I was good at passing the "written test" there during the first week, and then good at the "driving" during the second week of training (back in Spring 2006); I guess I just wasn't mafiosi and machizmo enough for em to let me finish, even after my dad loaned me a $1,000 that I paid the school. Supposedly the "accrediting" for the school came from the Tennessee "Higher Education Commission"; the authority over the school, but they then wouldn't do anything about it or anything worthy to help, at all.
The best way to show absolutely no discrimination on contracts for the MCC is to not build it.I wonder how the council vote broke down.
Have you SEEN the council lately? Holy cow.... it's certainly w/o the dignity it had under the auspices and leadership of the likes of Charlie Fentress, Jay West, Stewart Clifton, Mansfield Douglas, Willis McCallister, and Randy Kennedy. These people knew how to do the job and do it effectively. Maybe we as a society should consider recycling Council? At least back then, they actually "listened" to the voters. We had real discussions as to whether the pro sports investments were a good idea. These past few terms, not so...
No help for us midjets?
"Dean appointed an advisory council last October to identify initiatives Metro could take to help minority- and women-owned businesses receive a fair share of Metro contracts."Isn't this the Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog Rule?
It's a nice shake down racket if you can get a piece of it. If you are a minority business you find a company that makes widgets and sells them to Metro. Then, you get the bid, buy the widegets from that same company and sell them to Metro, but you bump it up 25% or so and pocket the difference.You never have to actually produce anything, you just skim off the top.
I'm suspicious of a bill for "non-discrimination" whose intent is "equal opportunity" that is measured by businesses receiving their "fair share". That's like the corner drugstore across the street from a CVS not getting its "fair share" of customers. The fact that the large companies who can do it better/faster/cheaper due to economies of scale must be ignored to benefit the businesses of preferred owners (minorities and women).
Is this where the $900 toilet seat comes into the story?
What is considered a minority? And if you claim minority status is there someone that goes to check you out, is there a "race police" out there to make sure someone is "black enough to be black" etc... Are Italians a minority? What about Puerto Ricans, Iraqis, Australian Aborigines and Eskimos? Does one minority get preference over another? Do you get more "points" depending on your perceived level of historic suppression?
At the rate the Spanish speaking population of the US is growing each year, I'm claiming minority status before the age of 50~ ;-)
I'm a white male. I've been a minority for years.
Wow. Listen to all the white people bitching about "special rights" again. Couldn't see THAT coming!We'll see if y'all support minority rights in 50 years when Caucasians are outnumbered by (legal) Hispanics and African-Americans.My guess is - yes, you'll demand protection from the future majority and you'll deserve it just like they do now.
I've already posted a similar opinion in another thread, but do you realize that you're "bitching" about them "bitching". Bitchin!
Will this so-called protection extend to potential contractors who lack the usual insider connections to the political machine? Surely these are the real minority.
I'm not complaining, just picturing a new government agency dedicated to verifying contractors and subcontractors ethicity and racial make up."We need new boots for the fire department but unless you are a female eskimo over the age of 40 please do not apply."
"18496
A new episode of All In The Family:http://www.examiner.com/a-1316322~La__Congressman_s_Brother_Indicted.html