Economics
City Holds Public Lands Meeting for Small, Minority and Women-owned Construction Firms
The City of Oakland is hosting a public meeting Monday, Jan 8 for Oakland’s small, minority and women-owned construction firms to learn about the latest proposal for developing the jobs’ component of a new city public lands policy.
The meeting will be held 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 2.
The purpose of the event is to hear what small Oakland construction businesses think about the latest draft proposal.
Councilmembers members Rebecca Kaplan and Abel Guillén are co-sponsoring the event.
“I am committed to working for an effective jobs policy on our public lands, to ensure access to economic opportunity and good jobs for all in our community,” said Councilmember Kaplan.
“In the past, such projects have employed too few Oaklanders and underrepresented African Americans, both as employees and for business opportunities,” she said. “I am advocating to make sure those problems are not repeated in future projects, by advocating to include these issues in Oakland’s public lands policy.”
Kaplan is proposing a “ban the box” policy, so that the formerly incarcerated are not excluded from construction jobs. She also wants to include apprenticeship opportunities for Oakland residents, pre-apprenticeship training for local youth and bringing back building trades training to the local schools.
Councilmember Guillén said the purpose of the Jan. 8 meeting is to provide information and “gather feedback from the business community, in particular woman – and minority-owned, local small businesses in the construction industry.”
“In working with the community, I’m looking specifically at opportunities to strengthen Ban the Box policies (fair hiring practices) and ensure that good-paying jobs are prioritized for Oaklanders,” he said.
“For the better part of a year, I have been working with city staff and community advocates to create a more transparent public lands policy that affirms the many potential uses and value of public land, while prioritizing affordable housing,” he said.
“My ultimate goal is to develop a more predictable, open process for putting public land to good public use.”
Guillén said he supports Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), which guarantee jobs on city projects go to building trades unions.
“Project Labor Agreements are an important priority in creating good-wage jobs for Oakland workers,” he said. “Implicit in that goal is full and fair access to those jobs by all Oakland residents, including African Americans and other folks who may have been excluded from participating.
“I’ve taken steps in other areas dealing with development agreements and the city budget to strengthen job-training and placement programs, and the same commitment to these opportunities and protections would hold with our public-lands policies.”
For more information on the Jan. 8 meeting, contact Sarah Ting at sting@oaklandnet.com
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of March 20 – 26, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 20 – 26, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of March 13 – 19, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 13 – 19, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of March 6 – 12, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 6 – 12, 2024
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
-
Alameda County3 weeks ago
Michael P. Johnson Garners Major Support in Run for Alameda County Superior Court Judge
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of February 28 – March 5, 2024
-
Antonio Ray Harvey3 weeks ago
Advocates Weigh in on Calif. Black Caucus Reparations Package
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of March 6 – 12, 2024
-
Book Reviews3 weeks ago
Book Review: “Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You” by A’Ja Wilson
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Who are the Alameda County District 4 Supervisor Candidates’ Top Campaign Contributors?
-
#NNPA BlackPress3 weeks ago
Rep. James Clyburn Steps Down from House Leadership
-
#NNPA BlackPress3 weeks ago
PRESS ROOM: The Allen Lewis Agency Named Ally Supplier Diversity: Supplier of the Year for 2024