Committee on Finance September 14, 2016 City Council Meeting
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is the third largest city in the United States with an estimated population of roughly 2.7 million; and
WHEREAS, at the time ofthe 2010 U.S. Census, 32.9 percent of Chicago's overall population identified as black; and
WHEREAS, to date, the estimated black population of Chicago still constitutes roughly one-third of the city's population; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has a vested interest in the continued development and growth of Minority Owned Business Enterprises, that interest being codified in 2-92-650 of the Municipal Code of Chicago as amended to be in compliance with the decision in Builders Ass'n of Greater Chicago v. City of Chicago, (298 F. Supp. 2d 725 (N.D. III. 2003) and adopted by Chicago City Council in May 2004; and
WHEREAS, the stated intent ofthe ordinance seeks to provide a level playing field and equal access for all contractors and subcontractors to participate in city contracting opportunities with the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, despite such legal directives, many ofthe firms and businesses awarded contracts with the City of Chicago fail to employ hiring practices that address racial imbalances and inequities in the workplace; and
WHEREAS, these imbalances are illustrated at major sites of employment such as Midway and O'Hare International Airports, where African American minority owned businesses accounted for only 13 percent of all awarded contracts; and
WHEREAS, in the first quarter of 2016, Illinois had the highest rate of unemployment for African Americans in the United States1; and
WHEREAS, the National Urban League's equality index ranked the Chicago metro area 65th out of 70 in black-white unemployment equality and 62nd out of 70 in black-white income equality2; and
http:/Awww.epi.org/press/illinois-has-the-highe^^
virginia-has-the-highest-white-unemployment-rate-for-the-fourth-quarter-in-a-row/ 2 The State of Black America 2016. National Urban League, 2016
WHEREAS, racial inequity in employment contributes to the impoverishment of black communities, affecting housing, education, income and livelihood;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the members of City Council call for hearings before the Committee on Finance to assess:
the adequacy and efficacy of the minority recruiting and employment practices of all companies currently contracted with the City of Chicago; and
The adequacy and efficacy of the minority recruiting and employment practices ofthe City of Chicago and its major agencies awarding contracts ~ including but not limited to -Chicago's International Airports, Chicago Department of Transportation, Streets and Sanitation, the Qepartment of Procurement Services and Water Management.