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Cincinnati NAACP Report on Mayor Mark Mallory’s Legislative Performance Record

As it relates to Issues vital to the African American Community

(2005 to 2009)  

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Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory received a "No Confidence" vote in his leadership in addressing issues vital to the African American Community from the Cincinnati NAACP Executive Committee at its February 19, 2009 meeting.  The Cincinnati NAACP Executive Committee presented this motion with recommendation on February 26, 2009 to the NAACP General Membership.  After presenting a comprehensive basis for the recommendation followed by a Question & Answer period, The "No Confidence" Motion overwhelmingly passed. 

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BACKGROUND: 

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A) The Mayor and City Council have FAILED in doing business with African American Businesses:

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The recent release of the Cincinnati Small Business Enterprise (SBE) numbers showed that African American businesses were left out of the local economic fabric.  This was the last straw for the Executive Committee.  Even though the African American Community is 48% of the city and the city has an African American Mayor, an African American City Manager, 2 African American Council members, the City’s SBE spending with African American businesses does not come anywhere close reflecting this fact.  

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Here are 4 examples from the SBE report that give insight on why African American businesses struggle in the Cincinnati community:

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Construction: The city spent $60 million on construction.  One African American business received $51,916 ( 0.4%).  Out of 181 contracts awarded in the area of construction, ONE (1) was African American.  

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Decentralized:  $4 million was spent in this area.  Of the 3,742 contracts awarded, 50 went to African American businesses totaling $69,553 or 1.3%.  This means each contract awarded to African American businesses averaged a little more than $1,000.  

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Supply and Services:  $445 million was spent.  African American businesses received 10 contracts totaling $148,440 (1.6%).   

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Professional Services:  $146 million was spent.  134 contracts were awarded.  African American businesses received nothing!      

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Jim Clingman, Cincinnati NAACP Economic Development Chair, says, "This report as well as reports in the previous 2 years graphically demonstrate the structural inequities that exist in the city's SBE programs.  These inequalities are especially damaging to African Americans who comprise 48% of the city's population."     

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B) Mayor Mallory’s Record Fails overall in addressing issues vital to the African American Community

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 The Cincinnati NAACP seeks to focus on Protecting and Advancing Civil Rights in the African American community in areas where major disparities still exist.  These disparity areas include: Education, Economic Empowerment, Healthcare, Environment, Civic Engagement and Criminal Justice.   

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C) An Invitation was extended to the Mayor to Address these Issues with Cincinnati NAACP General Membership. 

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The Cincinnati NAACP Executive Committee also agreed at its February 19^th meeting to invite the Mayor to address the general membership at its February 26^th meeting prior to the "No Confidence" vote in his leadership. Mayor Mallory responded that he was unable to attend the February 26^th NAACP membership meeting and requested a meeting with only the NAACP leadership at his office the week of March 2^nd.  Even though disappointed that the mayor did not accept the branch's invite to discuss this matter in public and given that the Cincinnati NAACP has tried to meet with Mayor Mallory for the past several years, President Smitherman accepted Mayor Mallory’s invitation to meet at the later date due to the importance of this matter to the African American Community. 

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SUMMARY:

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At the February 26, 2009 NAACP General Membership meeting, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory received a "No Confidence" vote in his leadership in addressing issues vital to the Cincinnati African American Community.  The Mayor and City Council have FAILED in doing business with African American Businesses.  Mayor Mallory’s Record Fails overall in addressing issues vital to the African American Community. 

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