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Black contractors group raises equity concerns over Justice Center construction hiring
Summary
At the July 22 public comment period, Norman Edwards, president of the Black Contractors Group, criticized hiring and subcontracting practices on the Justice Center construction project and urged council scrutiny of prime contractor outreach.
Norman Edwards, identified as president of the Black Contractors Group and the American Center for Economic Equality, used public comment at the July 22 Cuyahoga County Council meeting to criticize hiring practices on the county Justice Center project in Garfield Heights.
Edwards named Gilbane as the construction manager/general contractor and said Gilbane and other prime firms have done a poor job hiring Black and minority contractors and tradespeople. "They just did a terrible job with hiring black and minority contractors and tradesmen," Edwards said. He alleged that one firm, PMC, has been on many projects and asked the council to investigate whether county contracting dollars are being handled appropriately and whether more bidders could have produced cost savings.
Edwards urged the council that DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) reforms have not benefited Black contractors on large county projects and said he would continue to push the issue publicly.
Ending Council members acknowledged the comment period and several council members later in the meeting referenced long-term efforts to expand equitable contracting opportunities; no formal motion or bid-review request was made on the floor during the meeting.
