Aurora OK's plan to level playing field for minority businesses

Aurora aldermen are backing a commitment to expand opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities seeking city contracts.

The resolutions, approved Tuesday, were a result of discussions by members of the Task Force on Opportunities for Minorities and Women.

The group of 20 religious, business, trade-union and community leaders brought together by Mayor Tom Weisner was asked to recommend solutions for increasing competitive participation in city contracting that better reflects Aurora's diverse community.

The plan includes 16 ways the city intends to help, including initiating outreach programs with local organizations and implementing workshops to help the community better understand city processes. It includes the addition of a procurement officer to make sure everyone gets a fair shake.

Officials also intend to make better use of technology and social networking to improve communication and build a database to get a better handle on the level of goods and services available in the city.

The Rev. Julian Spencer of Main Baptist Church encouraged residents to view the program "not as a hand out, but as a hand up."

Naperville businessman Curtis Reed said he appreciated the outreach measures.

"As a member of the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce Contractors committee I want to commend you on the first step of expanding opportunities for minorities, women and persons with disabilities looking to do business with the city," Reed said. "I hope no one is thinking that the action you are taking tonight is about taking anything from anyone. I believe you are creating more opportunities for all, and that's the way it should be."

Rene Cruz, president of the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the plan will mesh well with other efforts.

"We, as the Hispanic chamber, are in support of this but we recognize that part of this is a responsibility upon ourselves as well," he said. "We have a duty to educate our membership. We have a duty to empower them and make sure they know they have an equal playing field."

Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence and Ninth Ward Alderman Leroy Keith were the only dissenting votes. Keith said the plan could be interpreted as exclusive to certain groups and he would prefer it focus more on small businesses throughout Aurora.

Lawrence disputed Cruz's notion the program would make his job easier.

"As a small-business owner, the last person I want help from is the government and I don't need them to suggest to me how to run any business because they're probably the worst people to get advice from," Lawrence said. "This resolution to me says there is a problem here in Aurora and I don't believe there is. If anybody knows of somebody who was turned away because of their race and everything, you have an obligation to tell someone here and that person should be fired and prosecuted right now."

The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce also was skeptical of the city's motives.

"The chamber understands the idea behind the resolution ... and is absolutely open to expand the diversity of our community. This promotes success and the idea of free enterprise which we support," chairman-elect Scott Voris said. "To the extent that this resolution is an occasion for all Aurora businesses to become more involved in the city procurement process, we believe it to be sound and valued. However, to the extent this idea is ultimately to steer particular segments of particular procurement to particular groups, the chamber expresses its opposition."

Weisner tried to deflect that criticism.

"This is an effort not to tilt the playing field but to simply make sure it's level," he said. "And I can find absolutely nothing inherently wrong with making that effort."