Almost a year ago when Denver Mayor Michael Hancock strengthened the city’s minority contracting program, critics into firms’ eligibility.
The allegations suggested some companies were not truly owned by minorities or women and therefore shouldn’t be getting advantages under the program.
To ensure a robust and equitable program created to give equal footing to disadvantaged businesses, it is important for the city to investigate every firm to confirm they are what they say. And if that ruffles feathers — well, too bad.
The stakes are high. No firm wants to be kicked out of the program that makes it easier for them to get construction contracts.
The Christopher N. Osher reports the city is questioning whether Rocky Mountain Reinforcement is eligible to be in the Minority/Women Business Enterprise program. The city says it cannot find evidence that two Hispanic businessmen paid anything when they received ownership of the steel construction company in 2011, the year it applied for status under the program.
The city believes the firm is instead owned by a white businessman from Greenwood Village.
The firm disputes the allegations, saying it is being discredited because its workers have not unionized. A hearing officer later this month will consider the case.
It’s difficult to know where the truth lies in what appears to be an ugly fight ahead. But the city can’t be faulted for insisting on taking a close look at the ownership of firms that are given a leg up on some competitors in order to ensure that they survive and thrive in what historically had been a good old boys network.
of a recent audit report and get more businesses involved and establish ” ” to ensure that objectives are met. If the city isn’t vigilant in examining every business to ensure its legitimacy, the whole point of the effort is lost.
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