Minority-owned contractors say they deserve more jobs from Convention Center expansion

Minority contractors don’t feel they are getting enough work on the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The protests of the contractors could be answered with City Council hearings.

Minority contractors don’t feel they are getting enough work on the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The protests of the contractors could be answered with City Council hearings.

Listen:
[audio: 090602tmcontract.mp3]

Protesters contend that not enough work is being given to minority contractors at the Convention Center, the biggest construction project in the city. Mickail Johnson is a painting contractor who wants to work on the project.

Johnson: This is an 800 million dollar contract here and minority contractors have less than one percent participation and the city officials are doing nothing about it and we’re upset about that.

Ameena Young is CEO of the Convention Center. She says they’ve exceeded their minority hiring objectives.

Young: There are 95 contractors, vendors, suppliers of which there are 66 minority contractors on the project to date.

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell says she is considering holding hearings to review the issue.