Mayor Nutter on Monday announced the creation of the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Construction Industry Diversity, the entity that is supposed to oversee the implementation of building trades' diversity plans in the construction of the $700 million Convention Center expansion and beyond.
The board is full of longtime critics of the unions' minority inclusion practices, including Wharton professor Bernard E. Anderson and public relations executive Bruce Crawley. (See press release below for a full roster) The big question for this board is: Willl it have any teeth? City Council had threatened to open the Convention Center project to nonunion contractors unless members of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council detailed their unions' demographics, and provided long-term plans to attract minority members.
In a compromise, Council approved its end of the agreement with the state and Convention Center Authority that will allow construction to move forward, though not all the unions provided statistics and/or inclusion plans -- most notably the electricians and carpenters' unions. The unions did not want to be subject to City Council oversight, but agreed to work with the Mayor's advisory commission, which had not yet been created. There are no penalties outlined in the Council legislation, and some -- including at least one of Nutter's appointees -- have questioned whether the commission can force the unions to do anything.
Philadelphia, March 31 – Today, Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced his fifteen appointees to the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Construction Industry Diversity: Bernard E. Anderson, Emily Bittenbender, Bruce Crawley, Sharon Dietrich, Sharmain Matlock-Turner, Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, Walter Palmer, Robert Reinstein, Joe Sellers, Narasimha (Nick) Shenoy, Carl Singley, Sam Staten, Jr., Anthony Wigglesworth, Senator Anthony Williams and Mario Zacharjasz. Carl Singley will serve as Chairman of the Commission.
In considering his appointments, Mayor Nutter solicited candidate recommendations from elected officials, building trades leadership, community organizations and other interested stakeholders. “The membership of the Commission represents an inclusive effort to identify a diverse set of leaders in our community who will commit themselves to setting an effective course for change,” said Mayor Nutter.
The Advisory Commission was established by Executive Order No. 5-08 on February 4, 2008 in response to concerns about a lack of minority participation in the building trades. “I would like to praise City Council for taking action on this critical issue and for spearheading this historic effort to work towards true inclusion within Philadelphia’s construction and building trades,” said Mayor Nutter.
The Advisory Commission is charged with conducting a comprehensive analysis and review of the construction industry in Philadelphia and with developing a comprehensive program to substantially increase the participation of women and minorities with the goal of achieving a workforce that reflects the overall demographics of the City. The Advisory Commission will submit its initial findings and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council by September 1, 2008. The Commission will receive staff support from the City Law Department.
Biographies
Bernard E. Anderson is a Practice Professor of Management at the Wharton School of Business.
Emily Bittenbender is the President of Bittenbender Construction Co., a woman-owned, union-affiliated general contracting and construction management company.
Bruce Crawley is president and principal owner of Millennium 3 Management, Inc.
Sharon Dietrich is an attorney with the Employment Law Project of Community Legal Services.
Sharmain Matlock-Turner is the President of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition.
Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller represents Philadelphia’s 8th Councilmanic District.
Walter Palmer 3rd is the President and CEO of General Building Contractors Association.
Robert Reinstein is the Dean of the Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Joe Sellers is the President and Business Manager for Sheet Metal Workers Local #19.
Narasimha (Nick) Shenoy is the Executive Director of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia.
Carl Singley is an attorney at WolfBlock.
Sam Staten, Jr. is the President of Laborers' Local 332.
Anthony Wigglesworth is the Executive Director of Philadelphia Area Labor Management Project.
Senator Anthony Williams represents Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State Senate.
Mario Zacharjasz, AIA, is co-founder and principal of PZ Architects, LLC and president of Puente Construction Enterprises, Inc.
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.