City Council Pushes to Boost Minority and Women Role in City Contractors

By DAISY WU

Two bills aimed at increasing minority participation and women employment in companies contracted with New York City were expected to pass the City Council Committee of Economic Development meeting on Thursday.

Drafted by Council members Elizabeth Crowley and Darlene Mealy, they would mandate companies who conduct business with the city to generate and submit annual reports of employment records to the Department of Small Business Services. The bills would allow an audit of the companies to see if they are complying with federal, state and local equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination requirements.

Women and minorities are commonly underrepresented in executive positions and corporate boards, witnesses said. Within the Fortune 500 companies, 70 percent of the boards are white males, according to the Alliance for Board Diversity.

“It is high time to bring equality for women,” said Ed Diaz, chairman of the Diverse Visions Group at a press conference before the committee hearing.

According to Crowley, companies with one female or minority board member performed about 30 percent better than companies with boards that comprised of all white males.

Studies have shown that Increased diversity within companies positive benefits. “Companies with more diversity have better work performance, better return on sales, on stocks, smaller gender pay gap and are more socially responsive, innovative and creative,” stated Crowley.

If passed, this bill would release the racial and gender makeup of companies under the City’s contracts. A reveal of the numbers will determine how non-diverse companies see themselves in comparison to diverse companies in regards to work performance. The council members hope to motivate companies to increase their racial and gender makeup for equal employment.

Many groups support the bills, including the Women’s Caucus and various leaders of minority and women’s equality groups.

“We can do this,” exclaimed Francesca Burack, President of Enterprising and Professional Women of New York.

Similar bills have already been passed in states such as Pennsylvania and New Mexico.