Friday morning, Mayor Cara Spencer announced she plans to restart a decades-long minority contracting program (M/WBE) she had paused in August reportedly due to threats from the federal government targeting DEI initiatives. A few months ago, Spencer paused the city’s minority certification and contracting programs and floated the idea of a “race-neutral replacement.
“This is a day to celebrate,” Spencer said during her press conference Friday.
After the presser, Spencer signed Executive Order #91” which will resume the program under a “strong legal framework” with policies that allow the city to resume non-emergency contracts involving its public works projects.
Although [Mayor Spencer] didn’t give specifics, the new program aims to set goals on a “project-by-project” basis rather than imposing uniform minority participation targets on city contracts.
“The city proudly remains committed to using its spending powers in a way that effectively and fairly addresses the disparities documented in contracting,” Spencer said, adding: “We have complete confidence that it will stand up to legal scrutiny and will be effective.”
Standing beside the mayor was Otis Williams, president of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and other minority hiring advocates. The new EO, Spencer said, was drafted with the help of those standing beside her and Atty. Rodney K. Strong, CEO of the Atlanta-based public policy law firm Griffin & Strong, P.C., which the city hired to help develop a strategy that will make the program fairer, better and resistant to any threats from the Trump Administration.
“Griffin and Strong delivered to the City of St. Louis a draft executive order rooted firmly in current law,” the mayor told reporters. “This means the city will resume (M/WBE) certification and will soon resume solicitation and execution of public works contracts with a shift toward ensuring equity on a project specific basis.”
Although she didn’t give specifics, the new program aims to set goals on a “project-by-project” basis rather than imposing uniform minority participation targets on city contracts.
Arguing that she thought the city’s previous M/WBE program was legal, Aldermanic President Megan Green told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch she thought it “probably wasn’t necessary to pause the program” but added: “We got it figured out and most of us who were grumpy with the initial decision are happy with this one.”
Williams of SLDC said revising the city’s M/WBE program was more than just a response to threats from President Trump or the Department of Justice.
“We basically reinstated our program using all the things that were there before but added the project-by-project component to it.”
The new program, Williams said, will make it more “defendable in a sense that we’ll be doing it on a basis based on the availability of minority and women firms.
“So, I feel a lot better about where we are.”
Additionally, Williams said, SLDC working with Griffin & Strong, Mayor Spencer and the city are all committed to drafting a new M/WBE ordinance with the board of aldermen that he hopes will pass by November.
Mayor Spencer Reverses Course, restarts minority business program
By Sylvester Brown, Jr.
Friday morning, Mayor Cara Spencer announced she plans to restart a decades-long minority contracting program (M/WBE) she had paused in August reportedly due to threats from the federal government targeting DEI initiatives. A few months ago, Spencer paused the city’s minority certification and contracting programs and floated the idea of a “race-neutral replacement.
“This is a day to celebrate,” Spencer said during her press conference Friday.
After the presser, Spencer signed Executive Order #91” which will resume the program under a “strong legal framework” with policies that allow the city to resume non-emergency contracts involving its public works projects.
“The city proudly remains committed to using its spending powers in a way that effectively and fairly addresses the disparities documented in contracting,” Spencer said, adding: “We have complete confidence that it will stand up to legal scrutiny and will be effective.”
Standing beside the mayor was Otis Williams, president of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and other minority hiring advocates. The new EO, Spencer said, was drafted with the help of those standing beside her and Atty. Rodney K. Strong, CEO of the Atlanta-based public policy law firm Griffin & Strong, P.C., which the city hired to help develop a strategy that will make the program fairer, better and resistant to any threats from the Trump Administration.
“Griffin and Strong delivered to the City of St. Louis a draft executive order rooted firmly in current law,” the mayor told reporters. “This means the city will resume (M/WBE) certification and will soon resume solicitation and execution of public works contracts with a shift toward ensuring equity on a project specific basis.”
Although she didn’t give specifics, the new program aims to set goals on a “project-by-project” basis rather than imposing uniform minority participation targets on city contracts.
Arguing that she thought the city’s previous M/WBE program was legal, Aldermanic President Megan Green told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch she thought it “probably wasn’t necessary to pause the program” but added: “We got it figured out and most of us who were grumpy with the initial decision are happy with this one.”
Williams of SLDC said revising the city’s M/WBE program was more than just a response to threats from President Trump or the Department of Justice.
“We basically reinstated our program using all the things that were there before but added the project-by-project component to it.”
The new program, Williams said, will make it more “defendable in a sense that we’ll be doing it on a basis based on the availability of minority and women firms.
“So, I feel a lot better about where we are.”
Additionally, Williams said, SLDC working with Griffin & Strong, Mayor Spencer and the city are all committed to drafting a new M/WBE ordinance with the board of aldermen that he hopes will pass by November.
Again, Mr. Brown, thank you for another report that does not “put a spin” on the truth for political purposes. Aldermanic President Megan Green told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch she thought it “probably wasn’t necessary to pause the program,” because she along with four other alderman “thought it was legal.” With so many property owners in desperate need of additional funds to help repair their homes, and restore their lives to some sense of normalcy, this was no time to take risks taking engaging in a protracted court battle or political grandstanding. I can assure you that those wanting to completely disregard an executive order issued by this President who has the backings of the U.S. Supreme Court, are not the ones who are living in homes that have no roofs over their head.