On Tuesday, June 24, St. Louis County Councilwoman Hazel Erby continued her efforts to bring St. Louis County into the 21st century by presenting meaningful and effective legislation that would assure that minorities and women have access to contracting, bidding and jobs opportunities in county government.
Erby’s legislation sets utilization goals of 20 percent for minority-owned businesses (MBE) and 5 percent for women-owned businesses (WBE) for all purchasing areas.
Erby, the only African-American female to ever serve on the County Council, was rebuffed by her fellow council members. Councilman Mike O’Mara, who aggressively opposed Erby’s legislation, introduced and passed a substitute bill that gutted the Diversity director’s power to investigate and report on inclusion or compliance matters. It also requires that minority companies that secure contracts over $25,000 have a Department of Labor-approved apprentice program.
Erby sternly admonished those members by warning them, “You are on the wrong side of history!” Although the audience in the council chambers was moved by that comment, the other members of the council were unmoved and stuck to their plan.
St. Louis County is home to the largest population of African Americans of any county in the state of Missouri. However, unlike St. Louis city, Kansas City, Jackson County and the State of Missouri, St. Louis County has no programs for the utilization of M/WBEs or for jobs for county residents.
Thirty-two percent of St. Louis County population is made up of minorities (with 24 percent being African-American), and most of the region’s MBEs are based in the county.
Erby said, “Minorities and women are full-fledged, law-abiding taxpayers and citizens, yet, as the records will show, are practically excluded from doing business here.”
Erby’ represents the county’s 1st District, whose population is 80 percent African-American. O’Mara, who aggressively opposed Erby’s legislation, represents the 4th District, whose population is 55 percent African-American.
Several speakers took direct aim at Stenger for his opposition to Erby’s legislation and his support for O’Mara’s weakened legislation. Mike Jones, senior policy consultant to County Executive Charlie Dooley and an appointed member of the State Board of Education, accused Stenger of politicizing the Normandy School District issue. Those comments were mirrored by Erby and Moline Acres Councilwoman Shonte Harmon-Young.
Stenger is challenging Dooley for county executive in the August 5 Democratic primary.
Erby’s effort to pass meaningful inclusionary legislation started about six weeks ago. Countless speakers, black and white, male and female, appeared before the council in support of the legislation with strong accountability measures. Although Stenger said that he spoke with the St. Louis County NAACP and they support O’Mara legislation, no one from the NAACP spoke in favor of that legislation.
