“At the end of the day, this is defining moment … because Black people are tired of being at the bottom,” said John Harmon, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. Harmon, speaking before a legislative committee Monday, was referring to the “New Jersey Disparity Study,” which was released in January.
Lawmakers from the Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee heard testimony about the study by Mason Tilman Associates, which reviewed statewide data relating to goods and services, professional services and construction over a five-year period. After reviewing more than 1.2 million records — including 240,000 contracts from over 60 contracting agencies, authorities, commissions, state colleges and universities — the review found significant gaps between the number of contracts awarded to white men compared to minority- and women-owned business.
Carlos Medina, president, and CEO of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, said, “It’s an old boys club. All the engineering firms golf with each other and it’s generations of this closed-door policy.”
Harmon said legislation is needed to increase the participation of minority groups in public contracts.
