Aldermen Blast Emil Jones on Olympics Deal for Minorities

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by Lesley R. Chinn

Former Senate President EmilJones Jr. was sharply criticized onWednesday when the City Councilapproved 40 percent of contractsfor minorities and women towardsthe 2016 Olympic Games ifChicago gets the bid in October.

In last weeks Chicago Defender,Jones called the memorandumagreement a slap in the face, andemphasized Blacks would get lessthan 10 percent of the work. Underthe agreement, minority-ownedfirms would receive 30 percentwhile female-owned firms wouldget 10 percent of the contracts.This is a 5 percent increase fromthe 25 and 5 percent set-aside program.But Jones said, Blackswould end up getting, the shortend of the stick, and the dealwould sell the Black communitydown the river. He also pointedout that Blacks are not the onlyminorities in the city.

While many city council membersincluding AldermenFreddrenna Lyle (6); Ike Carothers(29); Leslie Hairston (5) andWalter Burnett Jr. (27) criticizedJones, the strongest criticism camefrom 28th Ward Ald. Ed Smith.

Referring to Jones record as theIllinois Senate President, Smithsaid, He didnt come to Chicagowith [anything] in terms ofapprenticeships or set-asides forminorities. Yet, he said those of uswho sat around the table did nothave the ability to negotiate.Where is his brain? We negotiatedthe best memorandum that I haveseen since Ive been in the citycouncil, Smith stated.

Lyle called Jones remarkscheap shots at the individualswho were involved in the decisionmakingprocess.

While the 2016 Olympics is sevenyears away, Carothers andHairston said that the memorandumagreement is just the beginningand would open opportunitiesfor an increased percentage ofcontracts.

When contacted by the Citizen fora response about the aldermenscriticisms, Jones defended hiscomments and said that he doesnot care to dignify their commentswith a reply.

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