By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, March 08, 2007 at 5:09 AM
MEBCO, MOKAN, CCC, SLMCA, SSI MINISTRIES MINORITY INCLUSION ALLIANCE Labels: Development
Rosa Parks Economic Inclusion Initiative
March 6, 2007 – 150th Anniversary Dred Scott Decision
30-DAY JOB SHUTDOWN NOTICE
TO: MR. DAN LEE, CHAIRMAN & CEO PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT
This is to advise that, thirty (30) days from today all construction work on the downtown St. Louis Pinnacle Casino Project will, through civil disobedience protest action, be shut down for the following reasons:
1. Pinnacle has failed to comply with the City’s requirement of 25% minority and 5% female inclusion on this project;
2. Pinnacle has continuously and contumaciously refused to take steps to achieve compliance with the City’s goals, as illustrated by the project currently having only 17% minority participation, though over 40% completed;
3. Pinnacle has failed to act in good faith to address the lack of minority inclusion on the project by engaging in dilatory and deceptive practices;
4. Pinnacle has failed to achieve minority inclusion comparable to that achieved on other projects in the St. Louis metropolitan area, such as the new Cardinal’s Stadium and the Casino Queen projects, evidencing Pinnacle’s lack of commitment to minority inclusion.
“People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that wasn’t true. I was not tired physically, nor more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day…No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” Rosa Parks
For more information, contact the Spokesperson for the Minority Inclusion Alliance, Eric E. Vickers
Cc: Mayor Francis Slay, Missouri Gaming Commission, Media
21 Comments:
I would love to see a world where a capable and reliable person can get (or keep) a job "judged on their character rather then the color of their skin". Maybe the builders will have to go to the government center, Mebco, Mokan, CCC, Slmca, SSI Ministies, Minority Inclusion Alliance, post office, school board or Metro to recruit some people to reach their goals. Could the NAACP, Miss Black America, FIRE, Black
Clergy Coalition, Black Caucus, Black Awards Shows, BET, etc lend some people to achieve the "inclusion" that they so adamently preach about. What if the Minority participation was 8% over instead of 8% under??? Should the 85%+ majority shut the job down until their pandering demands are met? Should the majority take action against the above named organizations until they are properly represented within the very organizations that push for "inclusion" but do not have it? Are the people from Mebco, Mokan, CCC, Slmaca, SSI Ministries, and the Minority Inclusion Alliance inluded in the 17% number? They should be because they all seem to benefit from their interests in this job.
3/08/2007 8:19 AM
While your at it you should shut down Demolition Contractor who is doing the City funded demo at the corner of 13th and Cass. Every face on the job is the same color. They have ZERO inclusion
3/08/2007 8:22 AM
I've witnessed it myself. As I passed by the old butcher supply building on Cass I saw the blatent disregard for diversity of this work force in a very diverse neighborhood
3/08/2007 8:25 AM
Go ahead and delay the opening of the casino. All those future casino jobs will surely go to more than 8% over the construction goal of 25% inclusion. But hey, why not make a scene today, even if it means pushing off future benefits???
3/08/2007 8:41 AM
No comment on what they want to do, but I disagree with the tactics. They are living in a dream world if they think they can somehow get the site shut down, even for a day. I just don't see that happening. Things like this don't help the cause. Developing quality contractors that don't have to be cleaned up after does. I have been told by reliable sources that new contractors have to be hired to redo the work of contractors hired to meet the goals because they don't have the skills or care to do the job like it is supposed to be done. Some people are trying to develop contractors that know what they are doing. Others just get in the way. I guess I did comment on what they want to do.
3/08/2007 8:52 AM
Matt, You are right on. Sustainable minority contractors is the answer. Is it up to the public to develop these contractors? I don't think so. Who is responsible for McCarthy, Tarlton (wbe), Rallo (imigrants), HBD, etc etc success? They did it themselves. Forcing work down the throat of a contractor who can't handle it leads to pending disaster. Interface is a VERY successful mbe contractor and he gets his work on his MERIT not his COLOR. Good for him. I wish him continued success by rising above and doing things the right way. Does the majority protest when Interface has the job? He does tons of big work around town.
I've seen time and time again when the work had to be gone over. Why does every think that there is no training, science or skill in the building trades? This mentality is what lead to so much bad work out there. A person needs to be trained to do this work. How about serving a 3-4 or 5 year apprenticeship under the guidelines of DESE?
Does the MBE percentage include the hours spent correcting deficient work?
3/08/2007 9:28 AM
Making a scene today insures a certain (no matter how insignificant) justification for Eric and his cronies existance. Hey Eric why don't you just go back to practicing law? Oh I almost forgot....you lost your license
3/08/2007 9:31 AM
I thought that actions based on the color of someones skin was racist and illegal
3/08/2007 9:47 AM
The whole point of employing minority businesses is because they have been discriminated against, in the past, through public policy. The Census Bureau shows that the African American community is at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, obviously due to past discrimination. It is the duty of the public to redress its past wrongdoings in order to ensure equity thus equal opportunity. How can minorities better themselves if they are not given the chance?
The African American community is politically disadvantaged, as they are a minority group in a system of majority rule, because they hold little wealth, and again because of their general economic status. For the African American community to achieve political influence, they must have their own business leaders. No doubt, the existing power elites do not want challenges to their authority.
If the facts are correct then they should protest.
3/08/2007 10:11 AM
nice post, DD
best,
3/08/2007 10:56 AM
I would love to see a credible copy of this public policy. I was led to believe that the (dozens of) black republican congressmen and senators of the late 19th century addressed these issues. Having just went through Black History Month I was led to believe that the black race was very much apart of the construction process for years and years and that some of our greatest buildings would have never been built without them. I was also led to believe that some of the greatest doctors, scientist and lawyers were african american. Are these great achievements a faliscy or maybe these great indivuals were ambitious talented people like the Roberts Brothers or Colin Powell.
Perhaps PERSONAL responsibility has something to do with it. I guess having black Mayors, black alderpeople, fire chief, police chief and black millionaires in St. Louis is considered a "political disadvantage" and of no "political inflluence"
3/08/2007 10:56 AM
yes it's true that there are a lot of poor underpriveleged african american out there but statisics show that there are way more white folks out there on welfare. Can't we move beyond the color lines and work for the underprivledged black or white? Just a guess but I'm thinking that the white welfare recipiants probably don't have a long line of money and privledge in their ancestory.
3/08/2007 11:01 AM
Right or wrong, a city requirement is a city requirement. If they are not compliant, go ahead and shut them down. This is not a black and white issue. It should be a city issue. Why is it not? That is the case for argument. Good comment Doug.
3/08/2007 11:57 AM
I agree with trouble. Who ever is not complying with the City's rule should be fined or punished as outlined by the rule. Does anyone know what are the consequences of not complying? As the contractor should be held accountable, so should anybody engaged in any unlawful acts concerning a shutdown. This is a perfect time to check the contractors previous compliance and check for warrants on the protesters.
3/08/2007 1:04 PM
Rumor has it that the contractors are ready for the shut down at the casino site and are going to move their forces across the street to start on the tunnel until this thing is settled. They were stockpiling dirt on the bottle district parking lot yesterday. I've heard the dirt came from an abandond bus terminal and is laced with chemicals
3/08/2007 1:08 PM
right on trouble--it is a city issue. Thanks to Mr. Vickers and group for publicizing. It is the city who should be addressing the issue. time to back off Mr. Vickers
3/08/2007 1:11 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
3/08/2007 1:33 PM
Eric E. Vickers is the man when it comes to press release.
He connected Rosa Parks and Dred Scott to the building of a casino
More amazingly he used the words Contumaciously and dilatory to describe Pinnacles behavior.
Excellent work Mr. Vickers.
Strike on Strikers!
3/08/2007 1:55 PM
Does anyone know if the are enough blacks who are in business to support the 25/5 rule. I bet there are not. I also bet that the new ballpark, while it got close, didn't do 25/5.
We need hours of work instead of minority business. There are some black firms that have nothing but white workers, yet they are counted in the census.
Somebody needs to bring this system into the 21st century as it is severly flawed.
3/09/2007 7:59 PM
Oh no! Does this mean the public schools won't get their casino money on time?
If the casinos don't deserve to be shut down for failing to comply with minority hiring practices, they deserve to be shut down for the sleazy way they were approved in the first place.
3/09/2007 11:51 PM
to anonymous, concerned about the dirt stockpiled at Bottle District...
It came from Howard and 70...there is a connection between Mcguire and these properties in the path of the 'new bridge', which are listed as 'Howard Street Storage'. 20 truckloads a day, right past my building...
makla
9/20/2007 12:41 PM
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