Local governments, including New York City, annually allocate substantial funds for a wide range of goods and services, from major construction projects to everyday

necessities. The 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Investment Act, a significant contributor, is set to inject $550 billion into new investment over five years. This substantial public spending presents a unique opportunity to drive more equitable economic development. By implementing fair contracting and procurement policies, cities can ensure that historically underutilized businesses can seize these opportunities. 

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According to a New York City Comptroller Office report, in the Fiscal Year 2022, Black-owned vendors received under 2% of the value of City contracts, while Latino-owned firms fared a little better. In total, just 5.2% of the value of all new City contracts and purchase orders registered in Fiscal Year 2022 went to certified Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (M/WBEs).

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As a concerned member of New York City, I will introduce legislation to establish an

Equitable Procurement and Contracting Framework for our City. This legislation, which is crucial for our economic development, will set out rules to ensure that all businesses, regardless of their size or ownership, have an equal chance of participating in government contracting. By addressing historical barriers to participation, such as those faced by minority—and women-owned businesses, this legislation will pave the way for a more inclusive and fair procurement process. 

 

Under Mayor Wu, Boston successfully implemented the Equitable Procurement Initiative, which led to a significant increase in minority participation in city contracts. This success story demonstrates that there is still room for improvement in New York City's contract process. While our city has made strides towards equitable contracting, we can learn from Boston's progress and strive for an even fairer process.

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To enhance this City’s efforts, I propose legislation that will mandate New York City

conduct a Disparity Study on a bi-annual basis. A disparity study analyzes the

contracting practices of public and private entities to determine if minority-owned, woman-owned, small, local, and veteran businesses have equal access to publiccontracting opportunities. In other words, a disparity study determines if an entity has engaged in exclusionary practices in contracting or procuring goods and services.