Houston public comments split over 2023 MWBE disparity study as council prepares vote

Dozens of business owners, civil-rights advocates and trade groups pressed the Houston City Council on April 29 over the city's 2023 minority/women-owned business (MWBE) disparity study and proposed Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) ordinance changes that would reclassify some firms into a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) category and adjust which groups remain in race- or gender-conscious MWBE goals.

The debate matters because the council faces litigation tied to the city's contracting rules and officials said a formal vote on OBO's recommendations was expected the next day. Supporters of the study said failing to act risks losing the city's legally protected MWBE program; opponents said the study's methodology and community outreach were flawed and asked the council to pause and seek further review.

At a public-comment session that drew speakers representing trade groups and community organizations, advocates for adopting the OBO recommendations cited data from the 2023 study and warned of legal exposure if the city did not follow experts' findings. "The findings of the 2023 disparity study are clear," said Melanie Miles Basil of the Black Women of Greater Houston PAC. "Black owned businesses face statistically significant disparities in every major procurement category." Miles Basil urged the council to "adopt the 2023 disparity study and all of its…