-----Original Message----- From: Tuyet Le [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 3:44 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: **COMMUNITY ALERT** Asian American MBEs face exclusion from Chicago's affirmative action programs
***COMMUNITY ALERT*** Asian American construction contractors face exclusion from Chicago's affirmative action (M/WBE) programs. Ruling promotes model minority myth to divide communities, threatens to dismantle affirmative action program. In 1996, the Builder's Association of Greater Chicago sued Cook County and Chicago to end their affirmative action (M/WBE) programs for construction contracts. In 2001, Cook County lost its case, and its affirmative action program. In December, 2003, Judge Moran ruled that Chicago's affirmative action program was too broad. He gave the City until June 29, 2004. On March 8, 2004, the Chicago Tribune reported: "[Judge Moran] wrote in his decision that although construction firms owned by African-Americans faced clear discrimination, particularly in seeking loans, evidence of discrimination against firms owned by Hispanics, Asians and women was not as clear. / The judge also noted that the evidence is "thin" to support claims of discrimination against Asian-owned firms." NOW: Asian Americans face exclusion because Judge Moran's ruling suggested that it is difficult to prove discrimination against Asian Americans. Mayor Daley appointed a task force in mid-February to re-write the ordinance, which is chaired by Alderman Beavers. Many members of the task force want to REMOVE Asians from the revised ordinance, claiming that Judge Moran wants Asians out because of lack of statistical data proving discrimination in construction contracts. Hearings are scheduled for March 23 and 24. The Asian American community needs your support in order to stay in the affirmative action program. The potential ramifications: If Asians are removed from the M/WBE program, who will be next? Removing Asians from the program simply gives the BAGC one checkmark on their list of trying to end the entire program. What about all the minorities and City residents our businesses employ? What will happen to the local economy? What will stop other entities from trying the same tactics as the BAGC and going after affirmative action programs in other industries? Whether or not you do city work as a M/WBE, this issue should matter to you as a minority business person. Rather than divide us, this should unite us as fellow business people trying to earn a living on an equal playing field as our white counterparts. We must stop this before the dominoes start falling. What we need you to do: 1) Bring people to the upcoming public hearings on March 23rd and March 24th. Asian contractors will testify to their strong need for the program. We need your support. The hearings will take place at 10:00 a.m. at Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall. WE NEED YOU THERE TO SHOW THE CITY WE ARE WATCHING THEM. If the City is thinking about cutting Asians out, let's show them we will not go away. Please have your people arrive by 9:30 a.m. because we will hold a press conference in front of the Council Chambers and we want strong visual support at that time as well. 2) Write to your local Alderman. (sample below) Put this letter on your company's letterhead and fax and send it to your Alderman by Monday, March 22nd. Fax a copy to the Asian American Alliance at (312) 326-0399. If you do not know your local alderman, visit www.cityofchicago.org <http://www.cityofchicago.org/> or contact one of us below. It is particularly important to contact members of the Budget Committee: Chairman: William M. Beavers Members: Haithcock, Tillman, Stroger, Olivo, Burke, Coleman, Murphy, Rugai, Troutman, Munoz, Zalewski, Chandler, Ocasio, Burnett, E. Smith, Suarez, Mell, Austin, Banks, Allen, Laurino, O'Connor, Doherty, Natarus, Levar, Schulter, M. Smith, Moore, Stone 3) Contact other public officials to voice their support, and ask why Asian Americans are included in federal affirmative action programs, but will be cut out of Chicago's. Questions? Contact: Tuyet Le, Executive Director, Asian American Institute (773) 271-0899, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] Christine Takada, Executive Director, Asian American Alliance (312) 326-2200, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear__________________: (I or Organization name) am writing to you to express my great concern that Asian Americans may be eliminated from the City of Chicago's construction affirmative action program. If Asian Americans are excluded from the program, the consequences for the Asian American community as well as the City of Chicago will be severe. We hope you will take urgently needed action to support the inclusion of Asian Americans in the new ordinance. The Mayor's Task Force on this issue will hold hearings on March 23 & 24th. This will be followed by Budget Committee hearings in April, so time is of the essence. We ask that you demonstrate your support for the City of Chicago's affirmative action program and protect the inclusion of Asian Americans in the new ordinance. Voice your support for the inclusion of Asian Americans. Ask your colleagues on the Budget committee, especially the chair Alderman Beavers to support this. Ask Mayor Daley and his staff, to include Asian Americans in the City's affirmative action program for the construction industry. Ask Mayor Daley to meet with members of the Asian American community discuss this issue. (Insert something about your organization, if appropriate) It has come to our attention that the City of Chicago's attorneys have told the Mayor's Task Force looking into this matter that Asian Americans may not be included unless there is data to prove that Asians have been discriminated against in the construction industry. We have heard that the attorneys believe that Judge Moran stated in his opinion that Asian Americans should be excluded. Other attorneys who have reviewed the opinion respectfully disagree with Corporation Counsel's opinion. Judge Moran states in his opinion that the City has to amend the program because it is too broad, but he does not state anywhere in his decision that Asian Americans have to be excluded. The 1997 Economic census found that $43,395,442,000 was spent on Construction industries and subdividers and developers sales & receipts in Illinois. Asian American-owned businesses received a mere 0.6% of the total amount. According to a report by the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, Asian Pacific Americans seeking to participate in public contracting confront issues similar to those faced by African Americans and Hispanics. Discriminatory barriers include lack of access to credit and working capital, lack of notice of government procurement opportunities, inability to obtain the resources needed to prepare bids for and to complete government contracts, and discriminatory attitudes and practices by officials involved in the public procurement process. Some consider Asian Americans as the "model minority," and think Asians don't suffer any discrimination, and are universally economically successful. Yet, the poverty rates among recent refugee populations from Asia are among the highest in the nation. In fact, over 30% of Korean Americans in Chicago were living in poverty, a rate higher than that for African Americans or Latinos. (Census, 2000) Excluding Asian Americans from this program is another example of a national trend of chipping away at affirmative action, dividing disadvantaged communities by turning them against each other and fighting for a small piece of the pie. What kind of impact would this have on Asian American companies, the program or event the City? What will be next? Many of them may go out of business. Perhaps, eliminating affirmative action measures in all areas-employment, education, etc. This measure would also have a drastic impact on the City's economy. A dollar spent on an M/WBE is twice as likely to flow directly into the City's economy and 12 times as likely to flow to a City disadvantaged zone as a dollar spent on a majority contractor. Don't contribute to the dwindling of the City's economy by cutting Asian Americans from the affirmative action program. Don't let Asian Americans be used as the first step in cutting such programs. Support ALL M/WBE's regardless of their race and ethnic background. If Asian Americans are considered a minority by the federal government, why would the City of Chicago not follow suit? We appreciate your leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to ensure that a fair ordinance that includes Asian Americans is passed. Sincerely, ------------------------------------------------ visit http://www.geocities.com/sapacchicago email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe sapac" in msg body to unsubscribe
